The president of the Brazilian oil company, Jean Paul Prates, said that one of the company’s priorities during Lula da Silva’s government will be the development of offshore wind farms.
Prates, in the first press conference he gave after assuming the helm of the largest Brazilian state-owned company, explained that, although Petrobras is not going to abandon its main assets or the exploration of hydrocarbons, it will focus on renewable energies to start a process energy transition in Brazil.
“Wind energy and green hydrogen companies are the new frontiers and we are going to invest responsibly, seeking partnerships with large companies that already have experience in the sector”, said the senator at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro.
Prates said that Brazil has great potential for wind energy production in offshore wind farms and that the company, with its gigantic offshore hydrocarbon platforms, already has experience in building structures for this production.
He clarified that, despite the imperative need to intensify decarbonization and move towards a low carbon economy, Petrobras will not abandon oil and gas production because it is still necessary to supply energy and generate wealth for Brazil.
“Oil and gas production is not going to disappear overnight. It will still have to coexist for a long time with renewable sources. We will seek diversification, but without neglecting important businesses”, he said.
He stated that the company will continue to allocate most of its investments to the production of hydrocarbons in the pre-salt layer, the exploration horizon in very deep waters that has transformed Brazil into a major oil exporter and which is the company’s most important asset.
“Petrobras will also not refrain from investing in new frontiers, such as the equatorial margin”, he added.
