In Rio das Ostras, Theft in Transpetro Pipeline Causes Oil Leak

Most Cases Occur in Rio and SP, with Thieves Stealing Petrobras Fuel to Sell in a Thriving Black Market.

In the early morning of Sunday, September 22, in the rural area of the municipality of Rio das Ostras, in Rio, a theft at the Osduc pipeline caused an oil spill. The criminal act occurred near BR-101, with no community nearby. Petrobras loses R$ 150 million every year due to fuel theft.

Operations on the pipeline were interrupted, and regulatory agencies were notified about the occurrence. There is still no confirmation of the amount of oil that was spilled.

Emergency teams from the company were immediately dispatched and are on-site to ensure the containment of the spilled oil and minimize the impacts of the incident.

In a statement, Petrobras said that its subsidiary, Transpetro (responsible for the pipelines), is “a victim of criminal actions of oil and derivatives theft, collaborating with the authorities’ investigations.”

The company added that “its greatest concern is the safety of families, as criminal interventions in the pipelines may pose risks to the community, such as fires, explosions, leaks, pollution, and contamination of environmentally sensitive areas.”

Residents near the facilities can send questions and suggestions or report any suspicious activity in the pipeline area or nearby land by calling the toll-free number 168, which operates 24 hours a day.

Among the suspicious activities are nighttime operations in the areas, a strong smell of fuel in the vicinity, and the presence of cars and people with hoses and other equipment.

Petrobras Pipelines Saw a Record 261 Theft Cases in 2018

Petrobras reported an alarming statistic regarding its pipelines. In 5 years, the state-owned company saw fuel theft cases in its pipelines rise from 1 case to 261.

This record from 2018 is noteworthy, considering that in 2016 Petrobras recorded 72 cases. At the opening of Rio Pipeline 2019, Transpetro stated that it would invest R$ 1.2 billion in pipeline protection.