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☆ Brazil State Prosecutor Urges Vale, BHP to Settle Over Dam Disaster
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Marta NogueiraRIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Miners Vale, BHP and their joint venture, Samarco, should strike a deal to compensate for a deadly dam disaster in 2015 or risk paying a lot more in court, the Minas Gerais state prosecutor general told Reuters. Last week a federal judge ruled that the firms must pay up to 47.6 billion reais ($9.67 billion) in damages, in a decision still subject to appeal. "The total will be very high," he said, adding that the firms should strike a deal when talks resume in February, to avoid more costly litigation. Soares Junior is one of the many officials that would have to sign off on a deal that could settle lawsuits on state and federal levels involving the disaster. ($1 = 4.9437 reais)(Reporting by Marta Nogueira, writing by Fabio Teixeira; editing by Sandra Maler)

Persons: Marta Nogueira, General Jarbas Soares Junior, Soares Junior, Samarco, Vale, Fabio Teixeira, Sandra Maler Organizations: Marta Nogueira RIO DE, Reuters, Vale, BHP Locations: Marta Nogueira RIO DE JANEIRO, Minas Gerais, Mariana

[1/2] A logo of Brazil's state-run Petrobras oil company is seen at their headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 16, 2019. Lula told Prates that Petrobras should commission 25 ships to be built in Brazilian shipyards, instead of the four currently planned. When asked for comment, Petrobras referred Reuters to a Nov. 8 statement, in which it said it is still finalizing its investment plan. Last week, Reuters reported that Petrobras' plan will include around $100 billion in investments that the firm is both analyzing and those it has already committed to. In the previous 2023-2027 plan, Petrobras projected $78 billion in investments.

Persons: Sergio Moraes, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Jean Paul Prates, Prates, Lula, Brazil's, Sabrina Valle, Lisandra Paraguassu, Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Marta Nogueira, Fabio Teixeira, Roberto Samora, Gabriel Stargardter, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, HOUSTON, RIO DE, Petrobras, PETR4, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, BRASILIA, RIO, RIO DE JANEIRO, Brasilia, Mato Grosso, Sul, Petrobras

☆ Petrobras' five-year plan could include around $100 billion in projects - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of Brazil's state-run Petrobras oil company is seen at their headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 16, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowRIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras' upcoming five-year business plan will include around $100 billion in investments the firm is both analyzing and those it has already committed to, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. The plan for the 2024-2028 period will be finalized over the next few weeks, with publication expected at the end of this month, the source said. In the previous 2023-2027 period, Petrobras projected $78 billion in investments. The figures are still being approved and could change, the source said, with pitched projects including renewable energy investments.

Persons: Sergio Moraes, Marta Nogueira, Steven Grattan, Kylie Madry Organizations: REUTERS, Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras, RIO DE, Petrobras, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, RIO DE JANEIRO

☆ Exclusive: Brazil's Petrobras plans China subsidiary in push to boost ties, CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Marta Nogueira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Prates said Petrobras aims to open the Chinese subsidiary next year, after getting formal approval. "It's important to them," Prates said in a phone interview during a business trip to China. "It is an interesting signal, saying that in the same way that we have a Petrobras America, we will have a Petrobras China, because both countries are equally important to us," he added. Prates said Petrobras China subsidiary would allow Petrobras to operate and participate in projects as partner even in other countries, including in Africa. Petrobras wants to increase its share of China's oil imports to 15% from the current 5% in the next 10 to 20 years, Prates said.

Persons: Sergio Moraes, Jean Paul Prates, Jair Bolsonaro, Prates, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, didn't, Marta Nogueira, Gabriel Araujo, Brad Haynes, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A, REUTERS, DE, Petrobras, PETR4, Reuters, Petrobras America, White House, HK, CITIC, China Development Bank, Bank of China, Thomson Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, DE JANEIRO, SA, China, Petrobras China, United States, Beijing, Africa

☆ Petrobras eyes global expansion as Brazil hopes fade, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Marta Nogueira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] A worker walks inside the Brazil's Petrobras P-66 oil rig in the offshore Santos basin in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 5, 2018. Petrobras' main bet on replenishing its reserves had been the Equatorial Margin, some 2,200 km of deepwater and ultra-deepwater assets along Brazil's northern and northeastern coast. According to one of the sources, the Equatorial Margin has been the company's "Plan A, B, and C" for restocking reserves. In March, Reuters reported that Petrobras was among at least 10 companies including Shell and Chevron to consider bidding on a Guyana oil auction, now scheduled for July. Such projects could also add scope for foreign expansion, said Mauricio Tolmasquim, Petrobras' chief energy transition and sustainability officer.

Persons: Pilar Olivares, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Ibama, Jean Paul Prates, Prates, Lula, Mauricio Tolmasquim, Marta Nogueira, Gabriel Stargardter, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Petrobras, REUTERS, RIO DE, Brazil's Petrobras, Reuters, Petroleo, government's Energy Research, Ocean, Exxon Mobil, Estado, S, Shell, Chevron, Brazil, Thomson Locations: Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, RIO, RIO DE JANEIRO, Foz de Amazonas, Guyana, Suriname, Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia

[1/2] A logo of Brazil's state-run Petrobras oil company is seen at its headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 16, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesSAO PAULO, May 18 (Reuters) - A decision by Brazil's environmental regulator to block state-owned oil company Petrobras' Amazon oil project has exposed tensions in President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's coalition between green advocates and those prioritizing economic development. Ibama, late on Wednesday, said it would block a request by state-run oil giant Petrobras (PETR4.SA) to drill at the Amazon mouth near Amapá, in a much-awaited decision that followed a technical recommendation by Ibama experts to reject the project. The decision by Ibama, which is overseen by Lula's environment minister, the globally recognized environmentalist Marina Silva, has riled some within the governing coalition. "We'll fight against this decision," Rodrigues wrote on Twitter, adding that "the people of Amapa want to have the right to be heard".

The new pricing system scraps a so-called fuel import parity policy that more closely aligned prices at the pump with the oil market and exchange rates. In a research note, JPMorgan (JPM.N) described the reworked pricing policy as "more friendly than investors expected." The policy shift will be tested when oil prices rise, and apply upward pressure on what consumers can expect to pay for motor fuels or LPG. Petrobras' new pricing policy also came under criticism from some as too opaque. The previous pricing policy was adopted seven years ago by conservative former President Michel Temer.

☆ Brazil's Petrobras scraps fuel import parity policy, shares rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowRIO DE JANEIRO, May 16 (Reuters) - Brazil's state-run oil giant, Petrobras (PETR4.SA), has approved a new commercial strategy to set diesel and gasoline prices, it said on Tuesday, ditching its previous import parity policy without revealing a specific fresh pricing formula. "The end of pricing parity is not good, but this was already expected." "The new policy scraps the 'import parity' terminology, but in our view it has not changed materially," Credit Suisse analyst Regis Cardoso said. The import parity policy was adopted in 2016 by former President Michel Temer. People close to Lula celebrated the announcement, with his Mines and Energy minister, Alexandre Silveira, telling reporters the policy would not impose as much volatility as the import parity used to.

☆ Brazil agency recommends barring Petrobras from drilling in Amazon's mouth
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Marta Nogueira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signed last week by several environmental analysts from Ibama, the report also recommended the agency stop processing environmental licenses for the block. The oil block, FZA-M-59, was auctioned off by oil regulator ANP to Petrobras in 2013. According to Ibama's report, Petrobras' environmental studies still have "inconsistencies" even after a series of reviews. Petrobras and Ibama did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Another document seen by Reuters showed Werneck Sanchez Basseres, Ibama's environmental licensing coordinator for offshore oil and gas exploration, said he agreed with the report's assessment.

☆ Petrobras awaits government OK to drill at mouth of Amazon River
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRASILIA, April 29 (Reuters) - Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras (PETR4.SA) said on Saturday that it is awaiting the government's stance on its request to drill a well at the mouth of the Amazon River Basin, following a technical recommendation by the country's environmental agency to reject the proposal. "We're technically ready, waiting for the official position on our drilling campaign in the region," he added. But a technical report from Brazil's environmental agency Ibama has advised against the request, citing discrepancies in environmental studies, inadequate measures for communicating with indigenous communities, and insufficiencies in Petrobras' plan to safeguard the region's wildlife. The technical report will serve as the basis for the environmental agency's ultimate determination on whether or not to authorize activities in the area. Reporting by Marta Nogueira, Writing by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Andrea RicciOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Exclusive: Prosecutors in Brazil state sue AngloGold Ashanti over dam safety
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Marta Nogueira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 26 (Reuters) - Public prosecutors in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais have filed a lawsuit against AngloGold Ashanti (ANGJ.J) seeking 50 million reais ($9.91 million) in damages after the gold mining company allegedly withheld expert advice from authorities indicating a lack of stability in one of its dams, according to a document seen by Reuters. The lawsuit also asks for several additional safety measures and says that "twice in 2022 the defendant had robust technical studies, prepared by specialized consultants hired by the company, which indicated the absence of stability in the dam" in Nova Lima and that it chose not to publish them. "(AngloGold Ashanti) simply concealed the fact that they existed and, after trying to convince the consulting firm to change its mind about the dam's stability, it decided to change the team in charge of the service," the lawsuit said. In a request for comment, AngloGold Ashanti said it has not discharged wastewater or effluents into the Queiroz dams since December 2022 and that production at the unit's plants has been halted since then, but did not detail the reasons for stopping the discharge of wastewater. ($1 = 5.0462 reais)Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Writing by Steven Grattan; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

HOUSTON, March 6 (Reuters) - Guyana's coming auction of offshore oil exploration blocks has lured at least 10 companies including Shell, Petrobras and Chevron, to consider the decade's hottest oil region, people close to the matter said. Guyana also has begun direct negotiations on the 14 blocks and other areas with governments that have state-controlled oil companies. The proposed rules will nearly double the government's take from oil production to 27.5% of royalties and profit oil, plus a new 10% corporate tax, compared to Exxon's main contract. "We believe it is asymmetric now, and a bit in favor of the companies," Jagdeo said. The Exxon group can use 75% of the oil production to offset a variety of costs, including construction of its new Guyana headquarters.

☆ Brazil's Petrobras faces legal risks after halting asset sales -lawyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Marta Nogueira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lula appointee Petrobras Chief Executive Jean Paul Prates told reporters on Thursday "everything is halted for analysis." There is no stipulation for that," Alexandre Calmon, lead partner of law firm Campos Mello Advogados' energy area, told Reuters. "That would be a breach of contract," he said, adding if "Petrobras fails to do something that it is obligated to do, it can be held responsible." The lawyer also explained that sale processes already signed but not concluded are not under the control of the oil company. The sale halt marks a major shift from the stance taken by former President Jair Bolsonaro's administration, which oversaw a number of Petrobras assets sales, including oilfields and refineries.

Carminatti led as chief geologist the discovery in 2006 of one of the world's largest offsfhore oil deposits this century, the pre-salt. The salt barrier alone was more profound than any well that Petrobras, the world's leader in deep-water exploration, had drilled before. The pre-salt area is now responsible for more than 70% of Brazil's daily production of near 4 million barrels of oil and gas. Past CEOs have failed to convince him to take a post as head of a division in the company. Petrobras experts have compared the oil deposits in the region those of nearby Guyana.

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowHOUSTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The new Chief Executive of Brazil's Petrobras, Jean Paul Prates, has picked geologist Mario Carminatti to head the oil company's exploration and production division, people with knowledge of the information said on Friday. Petrobras said in a securities filing it had not received official statements regarding the nomination of any executive. He won praise for the pre-salt discovery, pressing on with drilling though the salt barrier that alone was deeper than any well that Petrobras, the world's leader in deep-water exploration, had drilled before. The pre-salt area is now responsible for more than 70% of Brazil's daily production of near 4 million barrels of oil and gas. Carminatti is currently involved in an almost $3 billion exploration effort in a new frontier North of Brazil, the Equatorial Margin.

☆ Brazilian ex-senator takes over as Petrobras CEO; shares fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Marta Nogueira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Prates was unanimously approved by the board, on which he will also hold a seat, Petrobras said in a securities filing. He has said the Lula government would not take an aggressively interventionist approach to Petrobras. Petrobras made bumper payouts in recent quarters, but Prates has said the company cannot "just keep tapping sub-salt oil and paying dividends". Prates, who was a senator for the past four years, is the first politician in several years to hold a high-ranking office at Petrobras. Earlier in the day, the Brazilian Senate's official gazette published the resignation of Prates as a lawmaker.

☆ Brazil's govt formalizes Prates nomination as Petrobras CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowSAO PAULO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) said on Friday the government has officially nominated Jean Paul Prates to serve as its chief executive officer and board member. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had already announced he would appoint Prates for the top job. Reuters reported earlier on Friday, citing sources, that the nomination had been formalized. Reporting by Marta Nogueira and Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Steven GrattanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brazil should work with other countries to curb illegal gold trade, says mining lobby
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Brazil's mining lobby group asked the country's foreign ministry to work with other governments to improve tactics used to combat the illegal gold trade, it said on Friday. "The trade of illegal gold feeds a criminal alliance in Brazil, which is responsible for part of the devastation we see in the Amazon rainforest, something the world is watching," said Raul Jungmann, president of the Ibram trade association, in a statement. Ibram represents mining giants such as Vale (VALE3.SA), Rio Tinto (RIO.AX), BHP as well as gold miners such as South Africa's AngloGold Ashanti (ANGJ.J) and Canada's Yamana Gold <YRI.TO. The lobby group called for the ministry to work with countries that buy illegally mined Brazilian gold, such as Switzerland, to "reduce the space" for illicit operators. It has pledged to stop deforestation in the Amazon, a vital biome whose health is considered vital in the fight against climate change.

☆ 'Sabotage' likely culprit for Brazil's Eletrobras towers collapse, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The collapse of two transmission towers operated by Brazilian power company Eletrobras (ELET6.SA) happened after someone cut the cables used to secure the towers, three sources with knowledge of the matter said on Friday. On one of the towers, "cut wires were found, in a sign of vandalism," said a second source. A third tower operated by power transmission company Evoltz had also collapsed on Monday. Another tower operated by transmission firm Taesa (TAEE11.SA) suffered a vandalism attempt on Thursday. However, the tower was not knocked down and there was no interruption in power transmission, Taesa said.

☆ Incoming Petrobras CEO Prates rules out fuel price interventions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 4 (Reuters) - The incoming chief executive of Brazil's oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) said on Wednesday there will be no interventions in fuel prices, and shares of the state-run firm rose. Jean Paul Prates, handpicked by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to lead the company, told journalists he does not intend to unlink Petrobras' fuel prices from those of international markets, but "will unlink them from import parity." Without forcing, without imposing a tariff, with absolutely no direct intervention in the market," Prates explained. His remarks, which echoed comments he made after his appointment as CEO, boosted Petrobras' share price, said Reach Capital's investment head, Ricardo Campos. Reporting by Marta Nogueira and Paula Arend Laier; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brazil's Petrobras CEO resigns as ministry chooses his successor -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Petrobras did not immediately comment on the resignation. Andrade had been handpicked by former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro after three of his predecessors left following clashes with Bolsonaro over Petrobras' fuel pricing policy. Prates will need final approval as a board member and subsequently as CEO from the firm's current board of directors. Andrade's term had been set to expire in April, but Reuters reported late last year that he had decided to resign earlier. Reporting by Carolina Pulice, Peter Frontini and Marta Nogueira; Editing by Mark Porter, Bradley Perrett and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brazil's Petrobras will play leading role to expand refineries, says new energy minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowRIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's new mines and energy minister Alexandre Silveira said on Monday that state-run oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) would play a leading role in expanding the country's oil refining sector. During an official event inaugurating his new role, Silveira said that Petrobras would play a leading role, encouraging other groups to join the process. "It is urgent that we enlarge and expand our refineries, taking them to the country's regions and modernizing the plants," he added. Reporting by Marta Nogueira and Pedro Fonseca; Editing by Sarah MorlandOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brazil's Petrobras to play leading role on refinery expansion -new energy minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowRIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's new mines and energy minister Alexandre Silveira said on Monday that state-run oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) would play a leading role in expanding the refining sector, and stressed the importance of developing renewable resources. Petrobras would encourage other groups to join the process, Silveira said during an official event to start his term in office. The ministry would seek to "revalue" biofuels and include them in Brazil's main energy system through safe and efficient long-term policies, Silveira said. Natural gas and biomass could be especially prominent as Brazil looks to build a medium- and low-carbon economy, added Silveira. "The future of our generation should be guided towards innovation and the expansion of renewable resources," he said.

But Jean Paul Prates, nominated on Friday to be chief executive, has been advocating for higher investments in renewables. "Petrobras is a company for the long run and cannot just keep exploring sub-salt oil and paying dividends," Prates said in a press conference this month. Prates, a senator for the past four years, will become the first politician to hold a high-ranking office at Petrobras in several years. Petrobras, Prates and the transition team's press officer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Prates has defended higher Petrobras investments in the refining sector as a way to secure Brazil's fuel supply.

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowRIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Caio Paes de Andrade, the chief executive of Brazil's state-run oil firm Petrobras (PETR4.SA), has decided to resign before his term ends in April, but has not yet set a date for his departure, six sources told Reuters. Andrade's early exit would provide a pathway for leftist President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to quickly install his own choice to lead the company. Lula, a leftist former president, takes office on Jan. 1. Prates has previously said the incoming government will not have an interventionist stance on Petrobras. Petrobras had previously said Andrade had accepted an invitation from future Sao Paulo state Governor Tarcisio Freitas to join his team.

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