The revocation of Petrobras' compulsory participation in the exploration of oil in the pre-salt layer was approved on Wednesday (24) in the full Senate. The proposal of Senator José Serra (PSDB-SP) (PLS) 131/2015 was proceeding with urgency and now goes to the House of Representatives. By 40 votes to 26 with two abstentions was accepted substitute introduced by Senator Romero Juca (PMDB-RR), result of the PSDB agreement with part of PMDB and with government officials.

Under the current law approved in 2010, Petrobras must act as the sole operator of the pre-salt fields with a stake of at least 30%. Besides being the company responsible for conducting and executing, directly or indirectly, all activities of exploration, appraisal, development and production. The text approved substitute, it is 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.

Serra proposes the end of exclusivity without removing the preference of the state. Senator argues that its design relieves Petrobras an obligation that it can no longer afford without investment conditions. He highlighted the financial difficulties of the company, with a debt of R $ 500 billion, and said the goal is to strengthen Petrobras.

- The only thing the project does is take the obligation of the company having to invest in each pre-salt well even more, with 30%. Nobody is delivering nothing. No one is taking anything away. Everything remains in the hands of the government, only Petrobras is not required to invest. Only that. If she wants in a month, it manifests its intention and control the well - observed.

According to the president of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, the change serves the national interest in order to attract investment. He greeted the offeror to accept all suggestions, including the government.

Expertise

The divergences of the senators on the matter have been discussed for six hours. Among the supporters of the project, Senator José Agripino (DEM-RN) highlighted the need for incentives for the competitiveness of Petrobras dominating the technology of oil and gas exploration in deep waters.

Senator Lúcia Vânia (PSDB-GO) considers that the project reverses a regulatory framework "wrong and obsolete", and have a positive impact on the agents' confidence in the Brazilian economy.

PSDB, Cássio Cunha Lima (PB) predicted the increase in revenue, creating jobs and revenue, with the payment of royalties. Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG) also believes that the change in the participation of Petrobras will allow the recovery of the sector, with no change in the sharing model and the Union's powers.