Rio de Janeiro – Petrobras announced today (10) the 70% increase in investment in natural gas and energy for the next five years. The value rose from US$ 6.2 billion, forecasted for the 2008-2012 period, to US$ 10.6 billion up to 2013. This forecast for the energy and gas sector is included in the company Business Plan for 2009 to 2013.
On detailing company investment and projects for the sector, the Gas and Energy director at Petrobras, Maria das Graças Foster, informed that the target for 2013 is to supply a demand of 135 million cubic metres of natural gas per day.
Of this total, 73 million cubic metres should come from national fields, keeping imports at around 30 million cubic metres per day from Bolivia and complementing the offer with 32 million cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The director clarified that the company works with the objective of "strengthening the company leadership on the Brazilian natural gas market, with international operation, and expansion of the electric energy generation business in the country, establishing flexibility in the supply of demand, as well as flexibilising the offer to the thermal and non-thermal markets."
Graça Fostes also clarified that, of the total investment forecasted for the coming five years, US$ 5.2 billion should be turned to new projects and US$ 5.4 billion to projects in progress.
The company should turn around US$ 3 billion to the LNG sector which should receive the third LNG production unit plus one more onshore unit, which will be hybrid (gasification and regasification).
A large part of the investment (US$ 8.2 billion) should be turned to the completion of works for expansion of the pipelines for the transport of gas to the Southeast and Northeast. A total of US$ 2.4 billion should be invested in the conclusion of thermoelectric power plans and small hydroelectric power plants (SHPs), as well as participation in businesses with wind energy.
Of the 135 million cubic metres made available to the market daily, according to Graça Foster, a share of 49 million will be turned to the thermoelectric market, 41 million to industry, and 45 million to other uses (cars, houses and trade).
*Translated by Mark Ament