Agência Brasil
Rio – Petrobras, the Brazilian state-run oil giant, reports that between now and the year 2010 it will invest US$2.85 billion in pipeline transport of natural gas in Brazil. According to Ildo Sauer, director of Gas and Energy, the funds will ensure the linkage of pipelines in the Southeast and Northeast regions.
Speaking at the Rio Gas&Oil Seminar, Sauer went on to say that Petrobras is working with estimated GDP growth of 4.5% annually and a 14% increase in demand for natural gas over the next seven years.
As for total sector investments, the president of the Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute (IBP), João Carlos de Luca, also speaking at the seminar, reported that they should reach between US$8 billion and US$9 billion, during the same period. Luca pointed out that that amount is nothing less than three times petroleum sector investments during the 1990s.
And he added that although Petrobras continues to lead the sector, other companies are investing as well, boosting the development of domestic petroleum and gas production and distribution.
Luca concluded by saying that government policy has also been an important stimulus for the sector, especially tax exemptions on needed imports in the program known as Repetro.
