The Senate Plenary approved yesterday (24) the law project that ends with the obligatory participation of Petrobras in the exploration of the pre-salt fields. The text, which now will be voted on in the House, establishes that the State company will have the right to choose whether to be the operator of the field or if prefer to abstain minimum holding of 30% that the law currently requires.

The opinion adopted is a substitute to the original project of Senator José Serra (PSDB-SP), which proposed the end of Petrobras' compulsory participation in the pre-salt exploration, but did not give it priority over the fields. The replacement, it will be up to the National Energy Policy Council to give Petrobras a minimum holding of 30% in each field and the company will manifest whether to accept the responsibility.

The text provoked long debate, which started in the last session and resumed today in the early afternoon. Several senators demonstrated contrary to the matter, especially the PT, considering that the project delivers the Brazilian oil to foreign companies at a low price since the oil barrel is with very cheap price.

To the author of the project, however, the goal is the opposite. Serra recalled that Petrobras has been experiencing strong economic crisis and can not afford to make the investments necessary for the exploitation of pre-salt oil. In his opinion, it is detrimental to the company have the obligation to exploitation.