Macaé Aims to Be More Than Just the Oil Capital

Macaé, Which Had Become the National Capital of Oil, Started to Shrink and Oil Workers Are Suffering the Consequences of the Crisis.

In the North of the state of Rio, Macaé, Is About to End the New Wave of Euphoria Regarding the Upcoming Oil Auctions Scheduled for Brazil, Highlighting the Surplus from the Production Sharing Agreement in Early November. Although the news of a new wave of wealth coming from the oil industry is appealing, the city is trying to shake off the reputation it has gained over the past decades as the “capital of oil,” in hopes of securing a more sustainable future.

With the advancement of exploration and production offshore, an extensive supply chain has formed in the region to meet the growing demand from Petrobras, bringing people from all over Brazil to the city with hopes of jobs and income.

Macaé, which had become the national capital of oil, started to shrink and oil workers are suffering the consequences of the crisis.

The purpose is to diversify the economic base, but the oil and gas chain must continue to support the city for some time. The estimated revenue from the municipality with oil royalties in 2019 could exceed R$ 54 million, in addition to resources coming from the oil and gas industry.

Macaé has the second-largest hotel park in the state of Rio, with about 10,000 beds. Today the residents express the desire to rebuild their history by investing in tourism.

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In the City, there are approximately 3,500 commercial base companies (from all sectors) and about 100 industries, according to data from the Macaé Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Acim). With the advancement of the pre-salt, eight new foreign oil companies are expected to arrive in the region.

The large volume of associated gas from extraction in ultra-deep waters is a good opportunity for the city to foster its industrial base, considering that Macaé contains the largest natural gas processing unit in the country, the Cabiúnas Terminal, owned by Petrobras.

Furthermore, the project named the Port Terminal of Macaé (Tepor) promises to bring jobs and development to the local industry. The complex, covering 6 million square meters, is expected to include an oil storage terminal with a capacity of 4.5 million barrels, a fuel storage facility, and a private natural gas processing plant.

Today, 3,000 employees circulate in the Bellavista industrial complex, which has 29 companies, 3 awaiting installation, and another 12 on the schedule for the coming months, including major suppliers to oil companies such as Petrobras and Shell. The condominium only hosts companies linked to the oil and gas chain, serving as a positive perspective for the sector.

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“After the Worst Years in Macaé’s History, the Sector Is Recovering. For 2020, We Project a 30% Growth in Revenue,” says Leonardo Dias, Managing Partner of the Enterprise.

However, oil workers in the region are concerned about what they call the “desertion” of oil platforms, meaning a drastic reduction of employees in assets that were sold by Petrobras.

The uncertainties about Macaé’s future do not reside solely among oil workers. From peak to bankruptcy, the residents and workers of the city say they have learned the lesson, and report that they do not want any title: neither of oil capital nor of energy. They want redemption.