Petrobras' decision on the platforms could have a major impact on the generation of jobs and income in the country
This week, Petrobras announced that it should no longer build the P-78 and P-79 platforms in Brazilian territory, with the aim of taking the project to the Asian continent, which will be responsible for making available the area for the construction of the platforms. The decision had a great impact on Brazil, which already had this construction, which would generate employment and income for the country, which has a high unemployment rate, even before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read also
Petrobras retreats and benefits Asian countries with platforms
These platforms would be built in Búzios, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, and could generate around 8 direct jobs and 80 indirect jobs. As the state is in a serious economic crisis, Petrobras decided to back off the decision and present this project to the Asian countries, even though the works in Búzios were already underway. It is possible that Petrobras will change its mind, but for now, the project is heading to Asia.
”I had a conversation with the president of Petrobras [Roberto Castello Branco]. He was clear: 'I'll buy where I have to buy at a lower price”', declared Sérgio Bacci, vice-president of the Naval Industry Union.
No development for Brazil
During Roberto Castello Branco’s management at Petrobras, the commitment to public policies that favored the country’s development was withdrawn. Currently, Petrobras does not operate in favor of Brazil, literally acting as a private company, only operating in the country, in favor of itself.
Due to the difficulty of producing the same or at least similar to Asia, for financial reasons, Brazil is unable to have a regularity when it comes to order delivery deadlines, which would lead to a decrease in production costs.
Bacci says that the liberalism imposed by Paulo Guedes, current Minister of Economy of the Bolsonarist government, brought neutrality to any type of obstruction to the dismantling of the sector as a form of strategy, since Brazil owns one of the highest volumes of pre-Brazilian reserves salt and neither the Federation of Industries of the State of RJ (Firjan) or the Fluminense bench in the National Congress were able to change this issue.
