São Paulo – Petrobras has established a management network to increase the competitiveness of its Brazilian suppliers. The network is aimed at guaranteeing a high rate of national product in company acquisitions. Apart from Petrobras, the project, formalized yesterday (16th) in São Paulo, brings together trade associations and workers in the supply chain, ministries, planning and administration secretariats, and fostering and financing organisations.
"Without competitiveness, it is necessary to import and the national economy is not strengthened. We cannot allow the oil curse to set in, by which other sectors of the economy are stagnant, whereas oil gains space. In the long-term it is a disaster,” stated Petrobras president José Sergio Gabrielli, in the first of the two days of debates that resulted in the establishment of the network.
He said he recognizes the “great pressure” that the current and future demand by the company causes to suppliers, but added the need for national suppliers to be competitive, so that Petrobras investment, including that in the pre-salt layer, benefits the economy of Brazil.
Petrobras has forecasted purchases of seven thousand pieces of equipment by 2013, including turbines, towers, storage tanks, filters, cranes and others. The company plans to acquire another 296 new tankers by 2020, of which 153 by 2013. The orders include large-sized vessels, support vessels and production platforms, among others. Apart from that, the company has already purchased 30 drills and should purchase another 28 by 2018. Of this total, 28 should be built in Brazil, with delivery scheduled for 2013 to 2018.
The project should also act in the proposal for improvement of regional and municipal management in areas more directly impacted by Petrobras’ activities. It should also work in partnership with the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) in the training of micro and small companies for the development of the regional supply chain.
The management network will operate in tandem with other existing initiatives, such as the Program for Mobilization of the National Oil Industry (Prominp), the Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Supply and Construction (CEPEC), Rede Petro (a network aiming to strengthen local companies in the locations Petrobras establishes operations in) and thematic networks.
Presently, there are 50 thematic networks involving 80 universities and research institutes in 19 different states, in projects of interest to Petrobras. From 2006 to 2008, 422 agreements were signed with 52 teaching and research institutions in Brazil, with contracts totalling 724 million Brazilian reals (US$ 413 million). Petrobras has also enabled the implementing of 26 cutting-edge laboratories in the country, geared towards the company’s field of operation.
The two days of debates for the formalization of the management network consisted of workshops, held through a partnership between Petrobras and the Brazilian Ministry of Planning, the National Quality Foundation (FNQ) and the Competitive Brazil Movement (MBC).
*Translated by Mark Ament and Gabriel Pomerancblum
