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Brazil looks to solve its energy security travails
Despite significant crude projections over the next five years, Latin America’s largest economy could be forced to start importing unless action is taken
Brazil rides a production wave
Latin America’s largest economy expects big uptick in crude this year with the imminent arrival of several FPSOs
Hydrocarbon Processing Refining Databook 2025: Americas
The US and Canada are boosting capacity builds for renewable diesel and biofuels, while Central and South American countries are investing heavily to upgrade and expand their domestic refining sectors
Latin America’s evolving crude outlook
New supply from Argentina, Brazil and Guyana is rich in middle distillates, but optimism in terms of volume growth remains tempered by regulatory and technical risks as well as price volatility
Brazil awaits contentious Equatorial Margin call
Political rancour is rising as politicians appeal for environmental licence to explore the mouth of the Amazon
Brazil seeks greater oil market influence
Despite environmental criticism, President Lula sees opportunity to build bridges with OPEC+ allies
Brazilian upstream enjoys bumper year
Soaring pre-salt production sees Latin America’s largest country pull away from the local competition
Rise of Brics challenges oil world order
The five economies are shaking up global markets, and they could be on the cusp of a major break from the existing order
Petrobras faces another period of uncertainty
Investors are wary about government intervention as the NOC welcomes its latest CEO
Mozambique upstream progress defies unrest
The east African country continues to attract investment in oil and gas projects, but concerns over security are still impeding developments in the gas-rich north
ExxonMobil Brazil Petrobras
Jeb Blount
Rio de Janeiro
1 December 2017
Follow @PetroleumEcon
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Bumpy start for Brazil's auction

ExxonMobil bet big in the Campos Basin, but foreign interest was tepid and just 13% of blocks drew winning bids

Brazil's 14th oil and natural gas exploration and production rights auction set a financial record for the country's recession-battered Treasury, but it did little to realise government hopes of getting new investors to jump-start its once booming oil industry. The 3.8bn reais ($1.2bn) raised from winning bids was the largest local-currency haul (but not in US dollars) in two decades of auctions and the government was quick to declare victory. For a government trying to balance its budget and lift the economy out of its worst downturn in a century, the windfall was an achievement, especially as a massive corruption scandal forces it to beg and barter for its political life. But as the first

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