Brasília – President Dilma Rousseff met on Thursday morning (10) with the minister of Mines and Energy, Edison Lobão, to discuss the exploration of oil and gas in the country. At the meeting, the president signed legal documents authorising the 11th tendering rounds for oil exploration blocks and authorised the cancellation of the 8th round, on standby since 2009.
At a press conference, Lobão pointed out that the country should start exploring shale gas and that the special tenders should take place by December this year. Regarding a possible crisis in the electric energy sector, the minister said that the topic was not discussed. "We are producing electric energy according to the needs of Brazil.”
According to Lobão, the date disclosed in late September last year for promotion of the 11th tendering rounds, May 2013, will be maintained. There was, however, reduction in the volume of blocks, which fell from 174 to 172, due to environmental matters. The blocks are divided between land and sea. In November, there will be new auctions, including the pre-salt layer.
Exploration of shale gas, according to the minister, should stand out in 2013. The intention is to decentralize the exploration area. The basins to participate in the tenders are Parnaíba, in the states of Maranhão, Piauí and Tocantins; São Francisco, in Minas Gerais and Bahia; Recôncavo, also in Bahia; and Paraná, which covers an area that ranges from Rio Grande do Sul to Mato Grosso state.
Shale gas may make the country more competitive. Gas, from oil or shale, is the main raw material for producers of basic components for the petrochemical industry.
According to the director general of the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel Agency (ANP), Magda Chambriard, who was also present at the conference, funds from the Growth Acceleration Programme (PAC), in place since 2007, are fostering exploration of the Brazilian soil. “We need to make use of the soil of our country,” she said.
*Translated by Mark Ament
