Brazil: Bolsonaro says Bolivia’s gas cut was “orchestrated”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) commented on the reduction of natural gas supply by the Bolivian state-owned company YPFB (Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos) to Petrobras.

According to the head of the Executive, the neighboring country and the Brazilian state-owned oil company act together to harm him and favor his political rivals.

“Bolivia cut off 30% of our gas to deliver to Argentina. How did Petrobras act in this matter? If you have to buy it from somewhere else, the gas is five times more expensive. Who is going to pay the bill? And who will be responsible? It’s a business that seems orchestrated to exactly favor you know who,” said Bolsonaro to supporters, without naming names.

GAS CUT

During May, Petrobras received about 30% less of the amount of natural gas contracted with YPFB. According to company sources, the average importation of the Brazilian state-owned company was around 20 million cubic meters of gas.

Petrobras said the reduction impacted the company’s operational planning and that it is taking the necessary measures for the contract to be fulfilled.

CHANGE OF COMMAND AT PETROBRAS

On Monday night, May 23, Bolsonaro decided to change the president of Petrobras again. He invited Caio Mario Paes de Andrade, special secretary to the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, to replace José Mauro Coelho, who had been in the position for 40 days.

The Board of Directors of Petrobras still needs to approve the nomination. If he accepts the invitation, Andrade will be the fourth president of the state-owned company in Bolsonaro’s administration.

Besides the oil company leaders, on the 11th of this month, Bolsonaro also fired the then Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque. He became unviable in office because he disagreed with Bolsonaro about pressuring Petrobras to hold down fuel price hikes.

The new minister is economist Adolfo Sachsida, former head of the Special Advisory for Strategic Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, Guedes’ nomination.

With information from Poder360