"Brazil is light-years ahead of the Global North," says Deyvid Bacelar regarding energy policy.

247 - The general coordinator of the Unified Federation of Oil Workers (FUP), Deyvid Bacelar, stated in an interview with Good Morning 247 Brazil is far ahead of countries in the Global North when it comes to energy transition and sustainability. According to him, there is no contradiction between exploring for oil and combating global warming, as long as this is done with sovereignty, environmental responsibility, and popular participation.

 “It may seem contradictory, but there is no contradiction in defending energy sovereignty and, at the same time, a just energy transition. Brazil is light-years ahead of the Global North on this issue,” said Bacelar.

Brazil is a clean and sovereign energy powerhouse.

The official highlighted that Brazil has one of the cleanest energy matrices in the world, with 90% of its electricity matrix and 50% of its energy matrix coming from renewable sources. According to him, the real environmental challenge for Brazil lies in other sectors.

"The problem in the country regarding greenhouse gas emissions is something else entirely: agribusiness, the misuse of land, deforestation, and wildfires. It's not the oil industry," he said.

Bacelar explained that oil exploration in the Equatorial Margin, a region stretching from Amapá to Rio Grande do Norte, is strategic for the future of national energy sovereignty. He recalled that the pre-salt layer, responsible for 78% of current production, will begin to decline from 2032 onwards and, if nothing is done, the country will return to importing oil in 2036.

"The Equatorial Margin is fundamental to guaranteeing Brazilian energy sovereignty," he stated.

The FUP coordinator argued that oil from the Equatorial Margin should be explored with environmental rigor and that the resources generated should be allocated to environmental preservation and sustainable development in the North and Northeast regions.

"We want this wealth to help protect the Amazon rainforest, the Atlantic Forest, and the Caatinga, and to contribute to the social development of the regions with the worst human development indices in the country," he stated.

Bacelar emphasized that Petrobras has the experience and cutting-edge technology to conduct this exploration safely.

"Petrobras has been exploring for oil in the Amazon, in Urucu, for over 35 years without ever causing an environmental accident. It possesses the best technology in the world for deep and ultra-deep waters," he stated.

He compared the Brazilian state-owned company to international oil companies that “devastated African countries and the Gulf of Mexico” in environmental accidents.

"If we want to avoid tragedies like these, we need to allow Petrobras to remain in charge of this activity, and not foreign companies driven solely by profit," he said.

FUP at COP30

Bacelar announced that a delegation of 30 oil workers will participate in COP30 in Belém (PA), carrying the FUP's position in defense of a just and sovereign energy transition with popular participation.

"We will be at COP defending the responsible use of our oil, mineral and water resources — to drive a transition that benefits the Brazilian people," he declared.

The union leader emphasized that the debate on energy needs to involve workers, indigenous communities, quilombola communities, and riverside communities, who are directly impacted by changes in the sector.

Negotiations with Petrobras and threat of strike.

During the interview, Bacelar also spoke about the impasse in negotiations with Petrobras. He stated that the union rejected the company's proposal and approved a state of strike, which could escalate into a national work stoppage.

“We rejected the company’s counterproposal because it does not meet the expectations of the category. If there is no progress, the trend is towards a national strike,” he said.

Among the demands are a solution to the Petros deficit settlement plans (PEDs), the restoration of historical rights, and an end to layoffs and cost-cutting.

Bacelar criticized Petrobras' profit distribution policy, which favors shareholders while cutting jobs.

"The company is breaking records for net profit and dividend payments, but it's laying off workers. That makes absolutely no sense," he declared.

Even while supporting President Lula, Bacelar reaffirmed the union autonomy of FUP and CUT. “We elected President Lula, we love our dear old man, but the government is a coalition. He needs to be pressured from the left to fulfill his program. Our role is to demand and defend the workers, regardless of who is in government.”