Rio Oil & Gas also presented the first edition of the Technology Arena. "For four days, we will have lectures about the fascinating world of technology, startups, strong-base companies, etc. May innovation remain as the fuel for work in the companies", summed up the Secretary General of IBP, Milton Costa Filho. He also pointed out that IBP has collaborated with Lloyd's Register Energy to develop a research focused in Brazil in order to develop enhanced policies for the country.

With the subject "Prospects and Challenges for the Oil and Gas Industry", the Knowledge Arena was opened addressing one of the main current issues of the oil industry worldwide: changes in the energy matrix and its impact on the industry. IBP’s economic analysis manager, Luciana Nunes, opened the debate noting that energy consumption has doubled in the last 30 years, but the discussion today revolves around how the global consumption trends may affect these figures.

It is true fact that the oil industry – which in 2015 accounted for 46% of all investments in energy in the world, while renewable energy were ranked second, with only 17% of the market share - needs to adapt to the new era, warns Luciana. An industry that has been following technological changes that will also affect the demand for energy in the world, as is the case of electric cars. The figures show, however, that even if the world car fleet remains the same, in 2030 electric cars will only account for 11% of the world fleet. Today this share does not even reach 0.2%.

With the expected market opening, experts debated two important issues in the Financial Forum: the arrival of new companies that will demand services and a possible change in the way that projects are funded. "Both the country and the industry must have a reform agenda. However, such reforms have no use if the players are not aware of them. Brazil must absolutely implement a communication program for its players", said Fernanda Custodio, EDC’s manager for Latin America.

The traditional Sustainability Arena - formerly known as Social Responsibility Arena - aimed to show that the oil and gas industry is in line with the sustainability discourse. The event addressed the 17 sustainable development objectives proposed by the United Nations as a replacement to the "Millennium Development Goals", a legacy of Rio + 20, as well as the initiatives proposed by the oil industry to mitigate the impacts.