Rio, 12/10/2002 (Agência Brasil – ABr) - Petrobras reports that it has renewed production at the Roncador oil field in the Campos basin, off the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro. Production was interrupted there in March 2001, when its P-36 oil rig sank. Petrobras says it is using a ship- platform which is presently bringing up some 22,000 barrels daily.

Petrobras says it will place a second well in operation soon, bringing production up to 40,000 barrels daily and 700,000 cubic meters of gas. Top production levels of 90,000 barrels daily should be reached in the second half of next year. (AB)