Brazilian prosecutors investigate the illegal use of native timber in corn ethanol manufacturing
Ana Luiza Peterlini, a prosecutor in Mato Grosso, Brazil, said that the state is investigating if corn ethanol plants burn wood from illegal deforestation for the production of biofuel. This would be against the decarbonization goals set by the sector. Mato Grosso, Brazil's largest soybean producer, accounts for 2/3 of the nation's corn-ethanol production. This has increased dramatically in recent years.
Inpasa begins construction of new grain-ethanol plant worth $445.2 Million in Brazil's Goias State
Inpasa, Latin America's leading grain ethanol producer, announced on Friday that it would invest 2.4 billion Reais ($445.2 Million) in a new facility to be built in Rio Verde (Goias), adding that the construction had already begun. The company announced in a press release that the new facility, its ninth, and first in Goias will strengthen the integration of agriculture and energy with industry.
Ecopetrol and Petrobras announce joint-venture to market natural gas from Colombia’s Sirius Project
Ecopetrol, Colombia's energy company run by the state and Petrobras, Brazil's oil firm owned by the state, announced a partnership on Thursday for a joint marketing of natural gases from Colombia's Sirius Project. Ecopetrol owns 55.6% of the Sirius block, Petrobras holds the remaining 44.4%, and is the operator for the project. The project is estimated to have 6 billion cubic feet and an investment of $5 billion.
Amapa Governor: Brazil's Petrobras is studying a logistics base for Amapa
Clecio Liu, the governor of the Amazonian State of Amapa told reporters that Brazil's Petrobras had authorized studies to build a logistics centre in the state. Last week, the state-run oil company began exploring a promising offshore area. Luis explained that the company's Transpetro logistics subsidiary would do the studies. He added that the center will support Petrobras in the event of an important discovery.
China CNOOC's net income for the third quarter of 2014 is down 12% due to lower oil prices
CNOOC Ltd, the Chinese offshore oil-and-gas major, reported on Thursday that its third quarter net income had declined 12.2% from a similar period a year ago as lower oil prices globally offset a strong growth in production. CNOOC reported that its net profit for the period July-September was 32.44 billion Yuan ($4.55billion), in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Petrobras and SBM are in discussions over FPSOs to be used for deepwater projects at Sergipe
Petrobras, Brazil's state oil company, is currently in negotiations with SBM Offshore about two floating production ships to be used for the Sergipe deepwater project. The head of Petrobras Exploration and Production announced this on Wednesday. Sylvia Anjos, Petrobras's spokesperson, said that the company hopes to reduce costs and accelerate delivery of both vessels.
IRENA's chief executive expects sustainable biofuels as a key theme at COP30
Francesco La Camera said that the COP30 climate summit this year will focus on the social aspects of energy transition and the use of sustainable biofuels, according to the Director-General for the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA. COP30 is scheduled to take place in Belem (Brazil) from November 10-21. This will be the time for countries to update their national climate commitments…
Petrobras and Equinor have acquired the majority of blocks at Brazil's presalt auction
The oil regulator ANP announced on Wednesday that Brazil's Petrobras, the state-run oil company, and Norway's Equinor had won a block in Brazil's Pre-salt Area. They each acquired one and partnered up to acquire a third, according to ANP. Karoon Energy, based in Australia, also purchased a block. CNOOC of China and Sinopec have formed a consortium for the acquisition of another.
LAUDES-U.S. cities drive energy transition despite Trump resistance
The U.S. By Carey L. Mayors report that many cities still have a long way to go in improving building efficiency, electrifying cars and neighborhoods, training employees for new energy jobs, and designing for tomorrow. Keith Wilson, the mayor of Oregon's biggest city, said that cities like Portland don't wait for federal permission before taking action on climate change.
Petrobras CEO: Production at Foz do amazonas could start in seven years
Magda Chambriard, Chief Executive of Petrobras, said on Tuesday that the Brazilian state-owned oil company could begin oil and gas production within seven years in the Foz do Amazonas Basin if the presence of large reserves is confirmed. Petrobras will drill an exploratory hole in Foz do Amazonas near the mouth the Amazon River. The drilling process should take around five months.
Datagro estimates that Brazil's sugar production will increase to 41,42 million metric tons in 2025/26.
Plinio Natari, President of Agribusiness Consultancy Datagro, stated on Tuesday that Brazil's sugar output in the center-south region is expected to increase 3.1% over the previous season, to 41.42 millions metric tons. The expected increase in production is despite a slight decline in sugarcane processed because the cane will be used to produce sugar rather than ethanol, which is expected to reach 52.1%.
Portugal's Galp is in advanced discussions to select partner for Mopane by this year
Galp, a Portuguese oil company, is in advanced discussions with several major oil companies to sell a 40 percent stake in the offshore Mopane field located in Namibia. The company expects to select a partner before the end of this year. Galp wants to sell half its 80% stake in the Mopane field to a company who would operate it. Bastos stated that "the interest is enormous"…
The Colombian Sirius gas project is moving forward with consultations and nearing the contracting phase
Alcindo Moritz, Petrobras Colombia's chief, said that the project Sirius, which is being developed by Ecopetrol, a state oil company in Colombia, and Petrobras of Brazil, off its Caribbean coast, has nearly completed half of the consultations with communities who could be affected by it. In December, the companies announced that they had confirmed Colombia’s largest gas discovery ever while drilling a hole there.
Equinor begins production in Brazil's Bacalhau Oilfield
Equinor, a Norwegian oil company, announced on Thursday that it had begun production in Brazil at its Bacalhau field one year after the original investment decision in 2021. Equinor said that Bacalhau, with recoverable reserves exceeding 1 billion barrels equivalent oil (boe), is the largest offshore field developed to date by Equinor.
Report: Global renewable energy growth is still short of climate targets despite record global growth
Globally, renewable energy capacity reached a record high in 2016, but countries still fell short of the U.N. goal of tripled capacity by 2030. This was revealed by a report released by global renewable groups on Tuesday. At the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, 2023, more than 100 countries agreed to triple their renewable energy capacity in 2030 in order to achieve global climate targets.
Poll shows that the majority of Brazilians are opposed to oil drilling near Amazon coast
According to a Datafolha poll commissioned by Eko (a corporate accountability group), a majority of Brazilians think President Luiz inacio Lula da Silveira should ban oil exploration near the Amazon rainforest coast, which is a sensitive eco-system and Brazil's most promising frontier for oil. The survey was conducted early in September…
Brazil will begin construction of TikTok Data Center in six months' time, Minister says
An official announced on Friday that construction on a TikTok Data Center in Brazil would begin within six months. The project is expected to generate an investment of around 50 billion reais (9.11 billion dollars). In a press release, Mines and Energy minister Alexandre Silveira stated that "six months from now we will start construction on TikTok’s data center".
Petrobras to meet 20% of the country's nitrogen fertilizer demand in 2026
Magda Chambriard, CEO of Petrobras, said that the company will be able meet about 20% percent of the total nitrogen fertilizer demand in Brazil next year once it restarts its operations at three plants. According to Petrobras' strategic plan, the Bahia plant and the Sergipe plant, located in Brazil's northeastern area, will supply 5% of the national market for urea, and 7% respectively.
Brazil's soybean exports will hit a record high as US market is out and Chinese demand strong
Data from the grain exporter Anec showed that Brazil's soybeans exports will surpass the annual volumes of 2024 and even 2023 due to the absence of U.S. rivals serving Chinese importers. According to Anec, the previous record for soy exports from Brazil was 101.3 million tonnes in 2023. Brazil's soybean farmers will harvest a record crop of more than 170 million tonnes in 2025.
Milei's Argentinean counterparts could face challenges if Vaca Muerta oil production slows down.
The Vaca Muerta oil field in Argentina, which is the fourth largest unconventional oil reserve in the world, has plateaued due to low oil prices and increasing costs. This slowdown could complicate Javier Milei's political agenda. The Vaca-Muerta formation, located in western Argentina, accounts for 64% the country's total oil production despite only 8% being under development.