17-08-07 Brazilian state-controlled Petrobras expects to build one or two LNG regasification terminals within the next five years to boost Brazil's liquefied natural gas import capacity as country's gas demand grows, CEO Jose Gabrielli said.
In a strategic 5-year plan, Petrobras raised its estimates for LNG regasification capacity from 21 mm cmpd to 31 mm cmpd in 2012.

"We are talking about 10 to 11 mm cmpd of additional capacity," Gabrielli told analysts at presentation in London. "We may have an onshore, fixed regasification terminal or one or two floating terminals, we don't have a decision yet," he added.
Petrobras has said that Brazil expects to receive its first shipment of imported LNG in April 2008, to be processed at a first Brazilian receiving terminal. A second terminal in Brazil would be ready to receive its first LNG shipments in the first quarter 2009. The two regas terminals, designed to take up to 21 mm cmpd of LNG, are to be installed in Rio de Janeiro and in Ceara, located in north-eastern Brazil.

The Rio terminal will have a capacity of 14 mm cmpd while the offshore north-eastern Ceara State plant would process 6 mm cmpd, Gabrielli said. He said the cost of the additional terminals, some $ 200 mm each, have already been included in Petrobras' plans to spend $ 112.4 bn during the 2008-2012 period.
Brazil is racing to meet a surge in projected gas demand of 121 mm cmpd by 2011, up from about 50 mm cmpd currently.