Brazilian and Chinese shipyards signed memorandums of understanding to develop technological and commercial partnerships at the Strategic Forum for the Brazil-China Shipbuilding Industry in Rio de Janeiro. The event is an extension of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's state visit to China in May. Petrobras and Transpetro are participating in the event to present the demands for new vessels and platforms in the next five years, highlighting the scenario of perennial demand for the shipbuilding industry.
The memorandums of understanding will be signed between the main Chinese shipyards (COOEC, CSSC, Cosco and CIMC) and the largest national shipyards (EBR, Rio Grande, Mauá and Enseada). Since Monday (30), representatives of these groups from China have been in Brazil and visited the industrial plants of the Brazilian companies and aligned mutual interests for possible future partnerships.
The Strategic Forum for the Brazil-China Naval Industry will be attended by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, the president of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard, the director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation, Renata Baruzzi, and the president of Transpetro, Sérgio Bacci, and other secretaries from the ministries of Ports and Airports, Development, Industry and Commerce and the Civil House.
During the Forum, the local content policy, the Package of Incentives for Investments in National Industry (PDIC) and the functioning of the Merchant Navy Fund (FMM) will be presented.
The signing of the partnership agreements between the Chinese and Brazilian shipyards takes place at a time when Petrobras and Transpetro are resuming investments in the naval and offshore segment, supported by the Petrobras System Fleet Renewal and Expansion Program.
For the president of Transpetro, Sergio Bacci, the signing of the documents between the shipyards of the two countries highlights the new moment of the Brazilian naval industry, which is resuming its activities and can work with a horizon of perennial demands.
'The Petrobras System Fleet Renewal and Expansion Program ensures the sector has medium and long-term planning, which will boost the recovery. And the possibility of establishing partnerships with Chinese shipyards, which are among the most developed in the world, allows the Brazilian shipbuilding industry to access new technologies and, possibly, even new orders, which can be shared with the Chinese,' says Bacci, who attended part of the meetings between the shipyards during the week.
'This dialogue is also part of the new global context in which the United States is prioritizing its local industry and opening spaces for new strategic commercial partnerships between other countries, such as China and Brazil,' adds Bacci.
Petrobras director Renata Baruzzi also states that it is strategic for the Petrobras System that the Brazilian naval industry resumes its production capacity and that it can expand partnerships with the rest of the world.
'For us at the Petrobras System, who are the largest demanders of Brazilian shipyards and one of the largest contractors in the global naval and offshore industry, having a strong domestic supply market is essential for the effective implementation of our projects. Furthermore, supporting the development of partnerships for the domestic industry is one of Petrobras’ business objectives. Brazil undoubtedly benefits from this dialogue between the shipyards of the two countries,' explains Renata.
Fleet Renewal and Expansion Program
Launched in June of last year, the Petrobras System Fleet Renewal and Expansion Program has already scheduled the contracting of 52 new vessels. The initiative by Petrobras and Transpetro will generate, at this stage, investments of up to R$29 billion, with the creation of 50 thousand new jobs.
The initiative aims to reduce Petrobras' exposure to chartering and provide greater flexibility and efficiency for cargo handling logistics operations. The program foresees the acquisition of vessels for cabotage along the Brazilian coast, including handy, gas and medium-sized (MR1) vessels, which will be part of Transpetro's fleet, in addition to support vessels for Petrobras.
Source: Petrobras
