Petrobras and CNPC pledge oil cooperation

Feb 02, 2005 01:00 AM

Brazil's state-oil company Petrobras and the China National Petroleum Corporation, or CNPC, pledged to assess possibilities for cooperation in a wide range of activities in the oil industry.
Petrobras' President Jose Eduardo Dutra and CNPC President Chen Geng signed a memorandum of understanding aiming at the development of joint activities in refining, the construction of pipelines, and oil exploration and production in Brazil, China, and other world regions, Petrobras said.

The two companies also want to exchange technicians in an effort to recover mature oil fields in both countries, and swap information in the petrochemicals sector. The cooperation between Petrobras and CNPC is slated to grow gradually through regular meetings in China and Brazil.
Rapidly rising commercial ties have made China one of Brazil's top trading partners. During a visit to Brazil by Chinese President Hu Jintao in November 2004, Chinese companies announced accords in transport infrastructure and mining that are expected to pump investments worth billions of dollars into Brazil.

Petrobras currently also is in talks with the Chinese Export and Import Bank and the China Petroleum and Chemical Corp., or Sinopec, for the construction of a gas pipeline linking north-eastern and south-eastern Brazil.

Source: Dow Jones