Rio, 10/1/2003 (Agência Brasil – Abr) – The director for International Affairs at Petrobras, Nestor Cerverá, reports that the company is studying the acquisition of shares in a Chilean oil firm (Companhia Petróleos de Chile (Copec). The move would be part of Petrobrás' strategic objective of expanding internationally from a base in South America.

According to Cerverá, Copec controls 50% of petroleum distribution in Chile. And as Chile is a stable economy, as well as South America's third largest, it is a natural gateway. (AB)