Petrobras in the crosshairs as election run-off looms
Ballot box verdict could prove existential for the NOC, amid controversial calls from the incumbent to break apart the Brazilian energy giant
Brazilian state oil and gas firm Petrobras marked its 69th birthday in early October. But the NOC’s future as a state entity may depend on the outcome of the second round of elections pitting incumbent Jair Bolsonaro against former president Lula da Silva. Throughout the election campaign, Bolsonaro has repeatedly flirted with market intervention and threatened to privatise the state juggernaut as early as next year should he win re-election. Bolsonaro’s argument, backed by economy minister Paulo Guedes, is that breaking Petrobras’ monopoly will lower domestic fuel prices. Importantly, it would also take the political pressure off the government. Since taking office, Bolsonaro has sacked and
Also in this section
10 December 2024
Sector at economic and strategic crossroads, but clear path ahead for midstream additions
30 November 2024
Decades of turmoil have left Iraq’s vast energy potential underutilised, but renewed investment and strategic reforms are transforming it into a key player in the region
29 November 2024
The country's fifth and sixth oil and gas bid rounds have attracted a range of new players with gas as well as oil ambitions—and there’s a seismic shift in the contracting process
28 November 2024
Iraq is charting a new path for its indigenous resources and its youth, hoping to electrify the future with a mix of reforms and modernisation to fuel growth