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TotalEnergies Appoints Olivier Bahabanian as New Leader in Brazil, Focusing on Deep Water and Renewables, Expanding Operations in Sépia 2 and Atapu 2.
In November, TotalEnergies will go through a leadership renewal in Brazil. Olivier Bahabanian will take over as the new head, becoming the Country Chair and the General Director of the Exploration and Production division. This change represents a new phase for TotalEnergies as it seeks to intensify its activities in deep waters and renewable energy, expanding its operations in the flagship projects Sépia 2 and Atapu 2.
The leadership transition will be marked by the farewell of Charles Fernandes, who has led the Brazilian subsidiary since 2021. With the arrival of Bahabanian, the company expects to further strengthen its presence in the market. TotalEnergies, under the management of its new leader, will continue to expand its boundaries with innovative projects aimed at sustainability and responsible growth. This strategy reaffirms the operator’s commitment to development and innovation in the energy sector.
Olivier’s Experience at TotalEnergies
Olivier brings with him a career of nearly two decades at TotalEnergies, holding high-relevance roles in France, the United States, Nigeria, and Angola. In his most recent position, Olivier headed the Investor Relations sector of the Company in France. Starting in November, Charles will take on the responsibility for leading TotalEnergies’ Exploration and Production activities in the Asia-Pacific region. In this new challenge, Charles will be the Senior Vice President within TotalEnergies’ Exploration and Production division. During approximately three years of activity in Brazil, Fernandes led significant transformations and spearheaded large-scale projects.
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Brazilian scientists are simultaneously advancing two research projects on clean hydrogen and driving solutions that could transform the energy matrix, enhance industrial competitiveness, and accelerate large-scale emission reduction targets.
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Advancement in renewable energy: A R$ 150 million project launched by Petrobras and Finep aims to create state-of-the-art electrolyzers for green hydrogen, strengthening national research and preparing Brazil to compete in a billion-dollar energy market.
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Illiterate or semi-literate grandmothers were trained to repair solar systems, open rural workshops, and light up homes that still depended on kerosene.
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The world has bet on green hydrogen as the fuel of the future, but now faces the side effect: producing 1 kilogram requires about 9 liters of ultrapure water, and the largest projects on the planet are precisely in the driest regions of the Earth, where water is already scarce for people.
Strategic Projects in Santos Bay
Under his management, TotalEnergies and its collaborators announced the start of operations for the Mero 1, 2, and 3 projects in the Libra block, in addition to the decision to invest in the mega projects of Sépia 2 and Atapu 2, not forgetting the Southwest Lapa field, all operated by the Company. Additionally, the acquisition of a 30% stake in the Água Marinha blocks and 50% in the blocks operated in the South of the Santos Basin S-M-1711 and S-M-1815 stood out. These acquisitions expanded TotalEnergies’ presence in deep water operations, consolidating its strategic presence in the Campos and Santos Basins. It was also during his term that Brazil solidified its importance in TotalEnergies’ global growth strategy, contributing to its evolution as an integrated energy company.
Partnerships and Expansion in Renewables
A notable partnership was formed with Casa dos Ventos, culminating in the creation of an exclusive platform for renewable investments of the Company in Brazil, reinforcing the ambition to reach 12 GW. Olivier will face considerable challenges, such as the start of the production of the Southwest Lapa field, and will contribute significantly to the execution of the Sépia 2 and Atapu 2 FPSO projects, alongside TotalEnergies and its partners. Such investments are crucial to maintain the Company’s production in this key market above 200,000 boepd.
TotalEnergies’ Lasting Presence in Brazil
In Brazil, TotalEnergies has been operating for nearly five decades through six subsidiaries, currently employing more than 3,500 people across different business areas, including Exploration & Production, gas, renewable energy (solar and wind), lubricants, chemicals, and distribution. In the operator’s Exploration & Production portfolio in Brazil, TotalEnergies holds 11 licenses, four of which are actually operated by the Company. In 2023, TotalEnergies’ average production in the country reached 135,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The Company is strongly focused on expanding its renewable energy segment in Brazil.
Investments in Renewable Energy
In October 2022, TotalEnergies established an alliance with Casa dos Ventos, the leading renewable energy agent in Brazil, with the aim of jointly developing a portfolio of 12 GW of renewable energy. This collaboration reinforced TotalEnergies’ commitment to increasingly integrate clean energy sources into its operations, aiming to align with global demands for more sustainable energy and making a decisive contribution to the reduction of carbon emissions.
Source: © renata.batista@approach.com.br
