The opening ceremony of OTC Brasil 2025, Latin America’s leading offshore energy event, was marked by a strong defense of maintaining oil and gas exploration in Brazil. The leaders present were unanimous in stating that exploring new frontiers, such as the Equatorial Margin, is an essential pillar for driving social and economic development and ensuring a secure, fair, and affordable energy transition.

Roberto Ardenghy, President of the Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Institute (IBP), emphasized that exploration efforts are vital for the country’s future, recalling the discovery of the pre-salt, which today accounts for more than 75% of national production. He highlighted the economic impact of the industry, which generated a US$36 billion trade surplus last year and created “hundreds of thousands of jobs.” Ardenghy warned that maintaining this contribution depends on new exploration areas, “as our two main production zones — the Campos and Santos basins — are inevitably maturing.”

Magda Chambriard, President of Petrobras, reinforced this message, stating that “there is no future for an oil company without exploration.” She directly linked the need to replenish reserves with the company’s role in decarbonization, highlighting the main challenge as “facing the energy transition with inclusion and fairness.” Magda stressed that Petrobras is committed to a “just energy transition that ensures affordable energy for the Brazilian population” and cited the start of drilling at the Equatorial Margin as “a milestone for Petrobras, for the state of Amapá, and for Brazil.” She also noted that the Búzios field is about to reach 1 million barrels per day, with the potential to reach 2 million.

The link between exploration and social development was reinforced by Clécio Luis Vilhena Vieira, Governor of Amapá, who stated that the activity is “very welcome” in the state, countering what he called “dogmas and fundamentalisms that do not contribute to the debate.” The governor pointed out that Amapá is Brazil’s most preserved state, with 97% of its forest cover intact, yet it still faces high poverty rates. “We need to turn these excellent environmental indicators into drivers for improving social and economic indicators. We see oil as an economic matrix to finance this development,” he said.

Artur Watt, Director-General of the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), noted that OTC Brasil takes place at a moment of celebration for the country’s offshore industry. “We are experiencing a milestone moment, with the authorization and start of drilling at the Equatorial Margin in Amapá and the recent auction that exceeded expectations,” said Watt, adding that this year Brazil’s oil production will reach 4 million barrels per day and about R$5 billion will be invested in R&D.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Maiza Goulart, General Chairperson of OTC Brasil; Carlos Mastrangelo, Member of the OTC Board of Directors; Cassio Coelho, Secretary of Energy and Sea Economy (Seenemar); Floriano Pesaro, Director of Corporate Management at ApexBrasil; and Jose Alexandre Barroso, Secretary of Oil and Gas at Angola’s Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas.

About OTC Brasil 2025

OTC Brasil 2025 is being held at ExpoRio Cidade Nova from October 28 to 30, with Petrobras as Master Sponsor; Shell and TotalEnergies as Diamond Sponsors; Equinor, ExxonMobil, Petronas, PRIO, and TechnipFMC as Platinum Sponsors; Brava, Chevron, and Repsol Sinopec as Gold Sponsors; bp as Silver Sponsor; and OceanPact, PERBRAS, Vallourec, and Tenaris as Bronze Sponsors.

Ecopetrol Brasil sponsors the Offshore Club; BTG Pactual Advisors is the Official Bank; and the Secretariat of Energy and the Sea Economy of the State of Rio de Janeiro is the Strategic Partner. United Airlines is the Official Airline, and S&P Global Commodity Insights is the Knowledge Partner. B&T XP is the Official Foreign Exchange Broker; Ambipar is the Official Emission Offset Partner; and the Brazilian Society of Naval Engineering (Sobena) is the Guest Association.

Media partners include eixos, Petro&Química, Brasil Energia, TN Petróleo, Upstream, Offshore, and Oil & Gas Journal. Institutional supporters include ABEEMAR, ABEMI, ABESPETRO, ABIMAQ, ABPIP, ABRACO, AHK Mercosul, Arpel, CESAR, EIC, Energy Workforce & Technology Council, Firjan SENAI SESI, IADC, IAPG, Rede Petro ES, SBGf, Syndarma, Abeam, and Visit Rio.