Petrobras promises more ships; auctions depend on the government – 03/28/2024 – Market

Petrobras has expanded its forecast for ship orders from national shipyards. Auctions, however, still depend on measures to guarantee the industry’s competitiveness in the face of international competition.

The resumption of the Brazilian naval industry is a campaign promise from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The sector has been experiencing a scenario of idleness since the discovery of the corruption scheme investigated by Operation Lava Jato.

Petrobras had already promised to hire four new ships to transport fuel, but decided to increase the number to 12. The new list also includes gas ships, which transport cooking gas, according to Petrobras. Sheet found out.

The government finalizes a package of measures to ensure that national shipyards are able to compete for orders with foreign companies. One of them is the resumption of the tax on imports of ships, which was zeroed under the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government.

On another front, the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that could reduce the cost of financing for the national industry, by accelerating the calculation of asset depreciation. It applies to the entire industry and is considered fundamental by shipyards.

The Mixed Parliamentary Front in Defense of the Brazilian Naval Industry says that the recovery of the sector depends on a set of legal changes related to contract financing and expects the government to present a PL to Congress in this regard.

“If we don’t have a change in legislation, we will again see the construction of some waste in the country and the rest all abroad”, says federal deputy Alexandre Lindenmeyer, who presides over the front. “There has to be some adjustment to provide equal conditions in the dispute.”

The preparation of the measures is the responsibility of the Mdic (Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services). When contacted by the report, the ministry had not responded to the interview request until the publication of this text.

The delay in holding the auctions promised by Lula has generated dissatisfaction among workers. “Our workers here are being imported by Canada, Australia or having to leave for Rio”, says the president of the Rio Grande (RS) metalworkers’ union, Benito de Oliveira Gonçalves.

Rio Grande was one of the cities that benefited from the last cycle of investments in the sector, with the opening of two new large shipyards. Today, one of them has a contract to dismantle a Petrobras platform and another is completing the construction of platform modules.

This last contract, says the union leader, ends in July. “Then the shipyard is left with nothing,” he says. “The city is abandoned, businesses are closing and the shipping industry, which used to move the city, is at a standstill.”

In its hiring plan, Petrobras also foresees 38 vessels to support oil production on the high seas. These are ships that take supplies to platforms or provide services such as anchoring or laying pipelines.

In this case, there is no need for legal changes, as the current law gives preference to Brazilian-flagged vessels in competition with foreign ones. The auctions, says Petrobras, will be announced in the coming days.

In a note released this Thursday (28), the state-owned company stated that its contracting of platforms, underwater equipment and probes should also generate opportunities for national shipyards. There will be 14 new platforms by 2028.

“We are in permanent contact with the supplier market and studying the best contracting strategies that allow us to meet Petrobras’ demand, maintaining the competitiveness of the processes”, says, in the text, the president of Petrobras, Jean Paul Prates.

“We are also committed to the development of our local supplier market, promoting initiatives that can create opportunities for the national industry”, he concluded.