A memorandum of understanding signed on Saturday unites Chinese companies Cosco, Offshore Oil Engineering Co, China State Shipbuilding Co, and China International Marine Containers Ltd., as well as Brazilian companies EBR, Rio Grande, Mauá, Enseada, and Atlântico Sul.
State-owned Petróleo Brasileiro SA and its logistics subsidiary Transpetro will serve as anchors for potential technological and commercial partnerships.
“We would like the Chinese to be partners in shipyards here,” said Chambriard at an event with Brazilian and Chinese executives held in Rio de Janeiro. “We look forward to the injection of Chinese capital.”
In addition to the construction of five floating production, storage, and offloading units, which will be contracted by 2030, Petrobras and Transpetro plan to order 52 new vessels by 2026.
The Brazilian federal government wants part of the fleet renewal program, valued at 29 billion reais (4.54 billion euros), to be invested in local shipyards, aligning with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s plans to boost the manufacturing industry.
Brazil’s shipbuilding industry has faced challenges since the 2014 eruption of the Lava-Jato corruption scandal, which involved Petrobras. Last year, the oil company resumed orders from Brazilian shipyards, which had been halted since 2016.
