Ildo Sauer, Gas and Energy Director, Petrobras
Brazil’s energy sector is following the worldwide
tendency towards greater diversification of primary energy
sources and the increased use of natural gas and
biofuels. There are several reasons for this change. The
most important are the environmental restrictions that
are gradually being adopted in the world’s principal
energy-consuming markets and the need to reduce the
dependence on oil, set against a scenario of accelerated
depletion in oil reserves and escalating prices.
The share of gas in Brazilian primary energy
consumption has more than doubled in a short period,
increasing from 4.1% in 1999 to 8.9% in 2004, and this
share is forecast to rise to 12% by 2010.
Over the past two decades, the world gas industry
has experienced a structural and regulatory
transformation. These changes have altered the strategic
behaviour of gas firms, with an intensification of
competition, the search for diversification (especially in
the case of power generation) and the internationalisation
of industry activities. Together, these changes have
radically changed the economic environment and the level
of competition in the industry.
Brazil’s gas industry is characterised by its late
development, although in recent years, internal supply
imports and demand have grown significantly — the
growth trajectory of recent years exceeds that of countries
with more mature markets, such as Spain, Argentina,
the UK and the US. And the outlook is positive for
continued growth over the next few years, particularly
when set against the investment plans already
announced in Brazil.
The country has a small transportation network
concentrated near the coast. The distribution network is
concentrated in the major consumption centres.
Domestic gas sources are largely offshore in the Campos
basin and Bolivia provides imports. Given the degree
of gas penetration in the country’s primary energy
consumption, the industry is poorly developed when
compared with other countries. The industry requires
heavy investment in expanding the transport and
distribution (T&D) networks, as well as in diversifying and
increasing its supplies. Such investments are necessary
for realising the industry’s enormous potential.
Another key industry highlight is the changing profile
of gas supply. A large part of the gas produced
domestically to date has been associated with oil
production. The latter diluting or even totally absorbing
the costs of exploiting the gas. In most cases, gas
production was feasible only in conjunction with oil
production activities. However, the country’s latest gas
finds are non-associated. Thus, an exclusively dedicated
structure must be developed to produce this gas —
translating into a significant rise in production costs. This
is more significant when analysed against the high costs
associated with the market for exploration and production
(E&P) sector equipment. In recent years, the leasing costs
of drilling rigs and E&P equipment have been climbing in
parallel with escalating oil prices. This directly affects
endconsumer prices.
In a world of primary energy consumption
diversification, of greater environmental restrictions and
the reduced dependence on oil, Brazil has been seeking
to develop alternative energy sources – principally natural
gas and biofuels. The gas industry holds enormous
potential for Brazil, although there is still a long way to go
before it reaches maturity and major investment is
required.
World Energy in 2006. copyright © 2006, World Energy Council.
Activities
01 .The main purpose of the text is to:
(A) criticize the significant rise in production costs of gas in
Brazil.
(B) list the advantages and disadvantages of the changing
profile of gas supply.
(C) discuss relevant issues in the use of gas as a primary
energy resource in Brazil.
(D) recommend the need for intensification of competition
and greater diversification of primary energy sources.
(E) evaluate all the current environmental restrictions adopted
in the world’s principal energy-consuming markets.
02. According to the author, the world gas industry, since the
late 80s, has:
(A) maintained a local focus and faced huge losses.
(B) felt the need to resort to traditional power generation
mechanisms.
(C) become a less competitive market due to the rising
competition of biofuels.
(D) suffered changes in both the structure of the industry
and the norms that regulate it.
(E) banned the internationalization of its activities in search
for higher national economic advantages.
03.In Brazil, the gas industry can currently be considered:
(A) a segment growing at a slow rate, despite the forecast of
a few prospective investments in the area.
(B) a promising economic segment that has recently
exceeded results of more traditional markets.
(C) more mature than the Argentinian gas industry, yet not
as profitable.
(D) feasible, as it requires no investment in transport and
distribution.
(E) potentially weak in terms of national demands for its
growth.
04.Mark the only correct statement.
(A) “this change” (line 4) refers to “reasons” (line 4).
(B) “that of” (line 26) refers to “years” (line 26).
(C) “its” (line 42) refers to “industry” (line 39).
(D) “The latter” (line 47) refers to “gas produced domestically”
(lines 45-46).
(E) “This” (line 53) refers to “(E&P) sector equipment” (line 56).
parallel with escalating oil prices. This directly affects endconsumer
prices.
05.According to the text, which of the following is NOT going to
be a problem for the future of the gas industry in Brazil?
(A) The need for Bolivian imports and the domestic offshore
gas sources.
(B) The need for intense capital investments to expand the
distribution networks.
(C) The restricted transportation network and its concentration
along the Brazilian coastline.
(D) The increased competition in the world market, which
can easily stifle the sector in Brazil.
(E) The interest of Brazilian authorities in developing alternative
energy sources including biofuels and natural gas.
06.Choose the only alternative that corresponds in meaning to
the following sentence in Paragraph 5 “Given the degree of
gas penetration in the country’s primary energy
consumption, the industry is poorly developed when
compared with other countries.” (lines 36 - 39).
(A) The Brazilian gas industry is less developed in relation to
that of other countries if one considers the share of gas
in Brazilian primary energy consumption.
(B) The Brazilian government gives large incentives for an
increased penetration of primary energy sources in the
market.
(C) The degree of industrial development in Brazil is poor
and requires alternative primary energy sources from other
countries.
(D) The poor development of the gas industry in other countries
results in a lower share in primary energy consumption.
(E) The gas penetration in Brazilian primary energy
consumption reveals a poorly developed country.
07.Check the only correct option.
(A) “depletion” (line 9) means the same as abundance.
(B) “forecast” (line 13) and backcast are perfect antonyms.
(C) “set against” (line 30) and set forth have equivalent
meanings.
(D) “to date” (line 46) and until now have the same meanings.
(E) “feasible” (line 49) means unlikely.
08.According to Paragraph 6 (lines 44 - 59), it is correct to state that:
(A) production costs will not affect end-consumer prices in
the gas industry.
(B) the need for drilling rigs and other equipment for exploring
gas are not major concerns for the Brazilian gas industry.
(C) the most recently found sources of gas have the advantage
of being associated with oil exploration and production.
(D) the production of gas in Brazil has, until recently, been
separated from the production of oil and has thus been
economically advantageous.
(E) heavy investment in a gas-dedicated structure will be the
major drawback for the exploration and production of the
recently found gas supplies.
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