Rio de Janeiro – BR Distribuidora, a Petrobras subsidiary in the distribution sector, plans to invest 4.3 billion Brazilian reals (US$ 1.9 billion) from 2009 to 2013 in the expansion of the company service portfolio. According to the company business plan, investment forecasted in the subsidiary this year total 621 million reals (US$ 274 million), 46.46% over the 424 million reals invested in 2008.
With this, BR hopes to consolidate its leadership in several segments of operation, like its network of petrol stations, great consumers and aviation products. The new business plan also includes the construction, expansion and improvement of the logistics infrastructure.
The president of BR, José Eduardo Dutra, said that the priority for this year is to make possible the incorporation into BR of Alvo Distribuidora, which represents the assets of Ipiranga. According to him, this is a job to be done throughout the year. "We want to incorporate all assets with the volumes [quantity of products traded] that accompany them. We want to lose no share of this market."
Dutra pointed out investment forecasted for the Duque de Caxias lubricant factory, in Rio de Janeiro, investment in modernisation of the petrol stations and in logistics and distribution bases. "With regard to the Petrobras system, this investment may seem small, but in comparison with other companies, they are significant: around 600 million reals (US$ 264 million) a year."
According to information disclosed by BR, the area to receive the greatest volume of investment in the coming five years should be the automotive sector, to absorb 1.4 billion (US$ 617 million). For the consumer market sector, gas and energy, the forecast is for 953 million reals (US$ 403 million) and, for the corporate and logistics areas, 918 million reals (US$ 404 million). Investment in Liquigás, the subsidiary’s cooking gas (LPG) distributor, investment should total 1.021 billion (US$ 450 million) in the period.
*Translated by Mark Ament
