Cristovam warns of the risks of the pre-salt reserves.
According to the senator, the exploration of the pre-salt layer brings risks such as a lack of qualified labor, as well as a process of deindustrialization, driven by an excess of dollars, and environmental pollution, with the possibility of spills; "I have an obligation to say that things are not as they are trying to portray them to us and are fraught with risk," he said.
The Senate Agency - In a speech this Friday (25), Senator Cristovam Buarque (PDT-DF) warned the population not to get too euphoric about promises based on the wealth resulting from the exploitation of pre-salt oil wells.
"I know that those who issue warnings in the face of euphoria, those who say 'be careful, things aren't that easy,' aren't well received. Because we like to experience euphoria to the fullest, but I have an obligation to say that things aren't as they're trying to portray them to us and are fraught with risk," he stated.
Cristovam cited a series of problems that could affect offshore oil production, such as environmental issues, since the risk of spills is very high. He said his biggest fear is that there will be a rush to explore for oil, leading to a relaxation of environmental protection measures or a disregard for the technical needs to prevent spills. He also mentioned the expected price of oil, which could fall in the future, either due to decreased demand or the emergence of new energy sources; and the risk of not developing the specialized technology to extract oil in such adverse conditions, almost seven thousand meters below sea level, nearly the height of Mount Everest.
Other factors, according to the congressman, could interfere with the equation envisioned by the most optimistic, such as the lack of specialized labor. Cristovam stated that it will be necessary to have "more engineers from the pre-salt layer," similar to the Mais Médicos program, because the expectation is that Petrobras' production will at least double, without sufficient engineers to do so. Another risk is that Petrobras may lack the resources to cover its 40% share in the consortia, and in that case, he warns, the Treasury will foot the bill, "either by issuing new bonds, taking money from health and education, or restricting salary increases for public employees."
Even if nothing conspires against it, Cristovam Buarque stated, there is still a risk of deindustrialization driven by an excess of dollars, the "Dutch disease"—a reference to the process described by Celso Furtado when studying the case of Venezuela. In this situation, he explained, a country with an excess of dollars stops producing industrial goods that it can buy abroad at lower prices and quality. Furthermore, the senator stressed, there is the risk of waiting, "of selling an illusion and accustoming society to waiting for wealth that is not yet tangible, only theoretical."