Temer prepares mega-auction of pre-salt oil reserves, says PT leader.
The PT (Workers' Party) leader in the Senate, Humberto Costa, harshly criticized the most recent decision by the Temer government to hold a "mega-auction" of the pre-salt oil fields. "Unfortunately, he is going to hand over all our assets. The profits from pre-salt exploration should be exclusively ours. The resources should be invested in health and education. But now, this coup-plotting president is giving our riches to multinational oil companies," he declared. The Minister of Mines and Energy, Fernando Coelho Filho (PSB-PE), stated that the objective of the Michel Temer government is to attract large companies in the sector, such as ExxonMobil, by holding a "mega-auction" as early as February, something that was only planned for 2018.
Pernambuco 247 - The PT leader in the Senate, Humberto Costa, harshly criticized the most recent decision by the Temer government to hold a "mega-auction" of the pre-salt oil fields. "Unfortunately, he is going to hand over all our assets. The profits from pre-salt exploration should be exclusively ours. The resources should be invested in health and education. But now, this coup-plotting president is giving our riches to multinational oil companies."
The right to explore the pre-salt fields will be presented, still in February, by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). The Minister of Mines and Energy, Fernando Coelho Filho (PSB), from Pernambuco, stated that the Federal Government's objective is to attract large companies in the sector, such as ExxonMobil, by holding a "mega-auction" as early as February, something that was previously planned only for 2018. The socialist minister also said that Temer should schedule the bidding for this pre-salt exploration for November 2017.
"It's absurd what this unelected president is doing to our country. We are living through a true economic, social, and political chaos. We are losing our wealth day after day and squeezing the poorest population. The resources from the pre-salt oil exploration would be of great help to fundamental social areas," lamented the Workers' Party senator.
The government anticipates that the auction will be held without local content requirements, leaving the shipbuilding and oil industries in even greater difficulty. In May, the government will auction off onshore exploration areas; in June, areas surrounding four blocks already in operation in the pre-salt layer (Carcará, Sapinhoá, Tartaruga Verde, and Gato no Mato, all in the Santos Basin) will be auctioned; and in September, there will be the 14th round of offshore blocks, but in the post-salt layer (closer to the surface, but some also in deep waters).
"This is one of the consequences of the sordid coup. So far, we haven't seen any improvement in our economy. All the measures taken by the coup-plotting Temer have only brought disastrous consequences for Brazilians. And those who suffer the most are the most humble, who need government support to survive. It's very sad to be experiencing this moment," stated Humberto Costa.
*With information from the Press Office