The president of the Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute (IBP), Roberto Ardenghy, emphasized the urgent need for concentrated investment in professional training to meet the growing demand in the oil and gas sector, with projections of over 400,000 new jobs by 2030.

“We’re facing the real possibility of a labor shortage in the sector, and we must act now to train over 400,000 professionals in the coming years. That includes skills such as artificial intelligence, foreign languages, and other competencies aligned with the energy transition agenda,” said Ardenghy during the opening of the seminar The Power of Rio de Janeiro’s Oil – An Energy Giant, held Thursday morning (April 10) in Rio de Janeiro.

He added that IBP, through its Corporate University (UnIBP), currently offers more than 400 specialized professional training courses.

As Brazil’s leading oil and gas producer, the state of Rio de Janeiro accounted for 89% of the country’s oil production and 76% of its gas production in January and February 2025, according to data from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). In the state’s economy, 53% of GDP is driven by the oil and gas sector, which also generates around 550,000 direct jobs. Additionally, Rio de Janeiro leads the country in oil and gas exports.

“Just look at the sector’s significance for both the national and state economies. Today, Rio de Janeiro holds more oil reserves than Norway, Mexico, and Angola. We are currently China’s main oil supplier,” Ardenghy noted.

“The oil and gas sector plays a vital role in both our state’s economy and that of the entire country,” said Governor Cláudio Castro. “While discussions around licensing in the Equatorial Margin continue, more than R$ 180 billion in investments have already been announced for Rio de Janeiro through 2030, including R$ 120 billion from Petrobras alone by 2029,” added Cássio Coelho, State Secretary for Energy and the Blue Economy.