According to Eliane, global giants were left out.
Anglo-Dutch Shell is one of the world's largest companies, with annual revenues of US$555 billion. French company Total is also a powerhouse, but according to columnist Eliane Cantanhêde, these giants didn't participate in the auction; in fact, American companies stayed out.
247 - According to columnist Eliane Cantanhêde of Folha de S.Paulo, the Libra auction failed to attract the oil giants. But what exactly are Shell and Total? Find out below:
Pre-salt, pre-elections
BRASILIA As expected, the Libra oil field auction ends and the political battle of opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of the outcome automatically begins.
For the opposition, the format imposed by President Dilma is excessively interventionist, handing over the operation and the minimum 30% stake to Petrobras, a company whose confidence and value have plummeted during the PT years. This format has thus scared away the international giants in the sector. So much so that only one consortium submitted a bid, and with the minimum offer, without any premium.
Furthermore, the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) sharpened its beak to remind everyone that the PT (Workers' Party) condemned privatizations during the FHC (Fernando Henrique Cardoso) administration and is now following the same path, acknowledging the obvious fact that without private and international capital, nothing will be accomplished. According to them, the PT in power only changed the name of the regime to "partnership."
Aside from the outcry from the opposition, few in Congress, such as Senator Roberto Requião (PMDB-PR), stood radically against the auction and in favor of the union leaders. There, the protests had little impact.
On the government side, the Planalto Palace and the PT (Workers' Party) are drumming up support for a consortium that, despite winning without competitors and without a premium, has a 40% stake held by Petrobras, 40% by the European companies Total and Shell, and 20% by the Chinese companies CNPC and CNOOC.
For them, repeating the jargon of the auctions from the FHC era, yesterday was "a historic day." The consortium is gigantic and Brazil, according to Senator Jorge Viana (PT-AC), will explore "this winning ticket [the pre-salt] putting the interests of the citizen first, not just those of the private sector."
In political warfare, the winner is the one who speaks loudest and has the channels at their disposal to do so. Most of the population is unaware of the auction, and most of those who are aware either don't take sides or, at the very least, have doubts. What tends to prevail is Dilma's triumphalist pronouncements. She stayed away and safe during the auction, but she knew how to win votes from the "historic day" on TV.