Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
0 comments 
Oil Royalties Balance Performance of Municipalities in Rio de Janeiro, Study Reveals
The unassertive distribution of royalties from oil in cities of Rio de Janeiro has been worrying in vital areas such as education, health, and management. This is the assessment of Sergio Andrade, a political science expert and leader of Agenda Pública.
Resource Management: A Long-Term View
According to Andrade, several cities in the state are allocating resources from oil and gas to short-term projects, without a long-term strategic vision. “Many municipalities are focusing on initiatives with immediate returns, without considering a broader perspective aimed at boosting sectors such as infrastructure, education, and economic diversification,” he emphasizes.
Recently, Agenda Pública, an NGO that collaborates with municipalities and corporations in the development of public policies, revealed a study that encompassed the 20 national municipalities with the highest revenues from oil and gas activities between 2022 and the first half of 2023. Of these, 19 are from Rio de Janeiro and one belongs to São Paulo (Ilhabela).
-
Lula’s government will reduce Brazilian families’ debts with discounts of up to 90%; minister reveals when Lula will announce the program.
-
The USA and Australia reach a billion-dollar agreement of $3.5 billion, focusing on the refining of strategic rare earth metals, nickel, gallium, graphite, magnesium, and tungsten to challenge China’s dominance in critical minerals.
-
Dubai faces a decline in tourism with hotel occupancy below 60%, rising costs, extreme heat, and pressure from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, raising doubts about the sustainability of the luxury model.
-
Brazil could gain a “new Petrobras” focused on rare earths if the bill is approved, and the state-owned company would be based in Brasília with the mission of industrializing minerals that the country currently imports.
The Royalties and Municipal Economy
For Andrade, the royalties from oil and gas represent the main source of income for most of these cities. “In addition to direct revenue, there are also taxes, fees, and contributions that arise from activities related to this sector. These resources fund a large part of the services and infrastructure in these locations,” he states.
The expert highlights the need for companies in the sector to adopt compensatory strategies aligned with the socio-environmental standards established nationally. However, he emphasizes that more is needed. “There is a deficiency on the part of the companies. To improve the performance of these municipalities, as identified in the study, it is essential to strengthen institutional capacities and develop long-term economic strategies aimed at a just transition to a more sustainable economy,” he concludes.
Rankings and Realities
The study “Oil and Living Conditions” segmented the cities into three population categories and assessed the quality of public governance in each. For example, Duque de Caxias, in the category of cities with the largest population, had a concerning performance, with a negative highlight in education, but a good evaluation in quality management. In contrast, Niterói positively led this group.
In the intermediate group, Magé had the lowest score, with social protection being its most vulnerable area. Macaé, on the other hand, led this group. And in the last group, of cities with up to 100,000 inhabitants, Paraty ranked last, despite having a good assessment in economic development.
Large corporations, such as Petrobras, Equinor, and Shell, are among the leaders in Brazilian pre-salt operations, playing a central role in the royalty scenario and in the economy of these municipalities.
Source: Sergio Andrade, political science expert and leader of Agenda Pública.
Seja o primeiro a reagir!