Rio - The executive manager of Exploration and Production at Petrobras - Petróleo Brasileiro, Francisco Nepomuceno, says the company will continue to increase production until the end of 2005, when production should reach 1.85 million barrels per day. And in 2006, with a further increase to 2.2 million barrels per day, Brazil will be self-sufficient.

Nepomuceno said that with the arrival of the P-43 platform in December in the Barracuda-Caratinga field in Campos, there will be a spike in production. "We have the infrastructure to handle 1.85 million barrels per day by the end of next year," he declared.

This year production is running at an average 1.56 million barrels per day, but should rise to 1.64 million barrels per day by this December.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Nielmar de Oliveira
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/19/2004