Agência Brasil*
Algiers – Oil company Petrobras, from Brazil, and its Algerian counterpart, Sonatrach, should begin a partnership this year. During a visit to Africa, the Brazilian minister of Mines and Energy, Silas Rondeau, stated that both companies are discussing the possibility of joining forces in a consortium. Through this consortium, they could dispute the auction for exploration of oil basins scheduled for the end of 2006, in Brazil.
"One of my suggestions is that, at the first auction, they may participate together in some group," stated Rondeau. According to the minister, Petrobras could also be a Sonatrach partner in Algeria. That is, the Brazilian company could also participate, in a group, in a tender for exploration of oil basins in Algeria.
A committee from Algeria will travel to Brazil in March this year to proceed with talks with Petrobras. Minister Silas Rondeau is included in the presidential committee that is going to spend a week visiting the African continent.
*Translated by Mark Ament
