RIO DE JANEIRO, March 18 -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that his country will achieve self-sufficiency in energy supply.
Lula inaugurated on Wednesday the country's second liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal, located in Rio's Guanabara Bay. During a speech, Lula said Brazil cannot depend on any particular country in meeting its energy needs.
"It is important that the world knows that we will have gas, that we have other ways. We will not be dependent on anyone's good mood," said the president, recalling the country's disagreements in the past with Bolivia over gas imports from Bolivia.
Brazil currently imports a total of 30 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Bolivia, which represents half of the country's total gas consumption. The gas is transported through the Brazil-Bolivia Gas Pipeline.
To reduce dependence on Bolivian gas, Brazil's state-owned energy giant Petrobras decided to increase natural gas production in Brazil and diversify natural gas imports, which led to the construction of two LNG regasification terminals in northeastern Brazil.
The Rio terminal is capable of processing 14 millions cubic meters of gas each day, while the terminal in Ceara state can process 7 million cubic meters per day.
With the new terminals, Petrobras will be able to import natural gas from other countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria.
"This terminal gives us flexibility in natural gas supplies in the country. The first shipment came from Trinidad and Tobago, but we can bring gas from any part of the world which produces LNG," said Petrobras CEO Jose Sergio Gabrielli.
Lula inaugurated on Wednesday the country's second liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal, located in Rio's Guanabara Bay. During a speech, Lula said Brazil cannot depend on any particular country in meeting its energy needs.
"It is important that the world knows that we will have gas, that we have other ways. We will not be dependent on anyone's good mood," said the president, recalling the country's disagreements in the past with Bolivia over gas imports from Bolivia.
Brazil currently imports a total of 30 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Bolivia, which represents half of the country's total gas consumption. The gas is transported through the Brazil-Bolivia Gas Pipeline.
To reduce dependence on Bolivian gas, Brazil's state-owned energy giant Petrobras decided to increase natural gas production in Brazil and diversify natural gas imports, which led to the construction of two LNG regasification terminals in northeastern Brazil.
The Rio terminal is capable of processing 14 millions cubic meters of gas each day, while the terminal in Ceara state can process 7 million cubic meters per day.
With the new terminals, Petrobras will be able to import natural gas from other countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria.
"This terminal gives us flexibility in natural gas supplies in the country. The first shipment came from Trinidad and Tobago, but we can bring gas from any part of the world which produces LNG," said Petrobras CEO Jose Sergio Gabrielli.
