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The new Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, said on Thursday (3) that the Jair Bolsonaro government would not interfere in Petrobras' policy regarding the price of oil and gas. gasoline, even in case of soaring international prices. took part in the new president of the company, Roberto Castello Branco, in which the two parties defended increased competition in segments such as refining and fuel distribution as an alternative to guarantee better consumer prices
" There is no possibility of intervention on fuel prices, "said the minister during an interview after the inauguration ceremony in Rio, which was also attended by the minister from the Economy, Paulo Guedes, and the governor of Rio Wilson Witzel.
Brazil has just benefited from a diesel price subsidy program, which guaranteed a rebate of up to R $ 0.30 per liter to companies that had committed to sell the product at a price. table
The minister said the government would use to enhance transparency and competition in the market, the goal being to guarantee "fair prices" to the consumer. . However, it did not want to determine whether the amounts currently billed in the country were high or low.
In his speech, Castello Branco also defended price alignment abroad and declared himself opposed to the creation of a flexible tax on fuels proposal. which was part of Bolsonaro's election platform as a measure to mitigate international volatilities.
"Market prices play an important role in an economy, indicating what can be consumed more and what can be consumed less.The placement of this tax extinguishes this beacon, it would be a state intervention ", he said in an interview after receiving greetings from those present.
The company's commercial policy began to raise serious questions when prices rose in the first half of 2018, even being criticized by members of the government, Michel Temer, who appointed the persons responsible for its elaboration.
LOVERS OF COMPETITION
Part of the so-called "Chicago Oldies" group (the "Old Men of Chicago", reference to the American University) where Guedes and other members of the area Economic Government have pbaded), Castello Branco reinforced in his speech the defense of liberalism already made by the Minister of Economy in his possession, in the fourth (2)
"We are lovers of competition ", he said. It advocates greater openness of the sector to foreign firms and a reduction of the role of the state in segments where the company is today monopolistic, such as refining, logistics and natural gas .
As at the federal level, one of Petrobras' priorities will be to reduce its debt and, consequently, its cost of capital. To this end, it will focus on increasing oil production, where the manager sees greater profitability, and reevaluate its presence in other segments by placing badets on sale.
Castello Branco avoids defining areas or badets likely to be sold, stating that valuations will always be made – before the elections, the Bolsonaro government even spoke of the sale of BR Distribuidora; the Temer government had started a process of selling shares in refineries.
But he added that "loneliness" in refining was disturbing society. Currently, Petrobras is responsible for 98% of the domestic production capacity of derivatives.
The company then opened a process of selling slices at four refineries, but negotiations were suspended following a decision of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) determining the badessment of privatization State badets through Congress.
Castello Branco argued that the strategy was aimed at strengthening the company, which has diversified and has also grown. "The important thing is to be strong and not gigantic," he said in his address in which he thanked his predecessors, Ivan Monteiro and Pedro Parente, "for saving the society from relegation. second division ".
The new president of the state has not yet defined who will compose the board of directors of the company. Two directors of the previous management – Nelson Silva, from the strategy sector, and Jorge Celestino – left the company before Christmas.
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