Petrobras will lose its exclusivity to operate on pier 2 of Porto do Pecém in 2023 and, with the deadline getting closer and closer, companies BP and Shell are starting the race to install a new natural gas terminal in the complex cearense.
With Petrobras' exclusivity contract at pier 2 at Porto do Pecém, located in the state of Ceará, coming to an end, oil and gas companies BP and Shell are on this Saturday (25/06), in the race for new business on site. This, because the companies have projects for the installation of a new natural gas terminal in the cearense complex and are now seeking the necessary agreements to give continuity to the enterprise.
New natural gas terminal could be installed in the Port of Pecém after the end of Petrobras' exclusivity and BP and Shell are racing for the deal
The Port of Pecém, in the state of Ceará, is currently one of the most requested by companies in the oil and gas sector for the development of natural gas production projects, due to its quality infrastructure for the segment.
With the arrival of the end of the exclusivity of the state-owned Petrobras on pier 2 of the complex during the year 2023. Companies in the segment begin to fight the race in search of contracts with the port for gas projects.
Thus, the main ones are currently BP and Shell, which are in a struggle to reach an agreement with the Port of Pecém for the installation of a new natural gas terminal at the site. And, both companies have a stake in the complex, since Shell currently has a contract that guarantees the supply of LNG to the 1,6 GW thermoelectric plant that the Portocem consortium. At the beginning of 2022, BP signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Ceará for the installation of a gas hub in Porto do Pecém.
In this way, both companies are trying to get approval for the projects for the new natural gas terminal, since there is no need for a bidding process and the projects are negotiated bilaterally with the port complex. Thus, the president of CIPP, Danilo Serpa, commented on the production potential of the Port of Pecém and said that “The undertaking that demonstrates viability, we will be able to house in our port terminal, in the most effective and efficient way possible”.
Demand for natural gas in Brazil grows and companies seek to take advantage of the current scenario with the installation of the new production terminal in the Port of Pecém
BP and Shell are currently in the race to install a new natural gas terminal in the Port of Pecém, not only because of the country's current market, but mainly because of expectations of growth in the sector over the next few years.
This is because the gas segment in Brazil and in the world has strong growth projections in demand over the years. next years, mainly due to the energy transition and new fuel alternatives.
Thus, Shell is in negotiations with Cegás (CE), for the supply of gas to the state concessionaire and is not currently limited to the contract for the supply of gas to Portocem. BP has a supply agreement closed with Positiva Energia do Pecém SA and the company intends to register three plants, totaling 2,2 GW in the port complex, further expanding the segment in the fuel market in Brazil.
Finally, with the end of Petrobras' exclusivity contract at the Port of Pecém, the port authority does not seem interested in renewing the presence of the state-owned company in the complex and should now focus on contracts with other companies in the field, such as Shell and BP, as a way of diversifying domestic supply and reducing dependence on the oil company.
