Rio, 2/10/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Lula administration will continue with auctions for exploration and production of petroleum in Brazil and they will remain open to the private sector. Studies are underway to determine the level of nationalization of components that will be required, reports minister of Mines and Energy, Dilma Roussef.

The minister says the experience of the first four such auctions will be taken into account in the government's efforts to raise the level of domestically-made components used in exploration and production of petroleum in Brazil. (AB)