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Petrobras’ disposal of floating platform opens doors to Brazilian recycling industry

Brazilian state-owned oil and gas giant Petrobras has concluded the auction for the disposal of a floating
offshore platform, as part of its new commitment to sustainable ship recycling. This is believed to be the first
recycling project of this sort to be undertaken in Brazil.

Petrobras sold the P-32 floating unit, which worked at the Marlim field in the Campos Basin, on 7 July 2023. As a
result, Gerdau, a steel company, and Ecovix shipyard have been entrusted with the responsible and
environmentally sound recycling of the platform, in a collaboration supervised by the Brazilian giant.

Nicola Mulinaris, Senior Communication and Policy Advisor of the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, commented:
“This decision marks the first time a commercial vessel at the end of its lifecycle will be dismantled in Brazil. This
significant move not only paves the way for the development of a recycling industry in Brazil but also sets an
important precedent for the shipping and oil and gas sectors, encouraging other ship owners to adopt similar
strategies for capacity building.”

The recycling of the P-32 platform is part of Petrobras' Marlim and Voador revitalisation project, where two new
FPSOs – Anna Nery and Anita Garibaldi – will replace the previous nine platforms: P-18, P-19, P-20, P-26, P-32,
P-33, P-35, P-37, and P-47. This project is expected to contribute to the recovery of the Campos Basin
production, which is anticipated to reach 900,000 boed in 2027.

Furthermore, Petrobras is expected to retire at least 26 units over the next five years, with a projected investment
of $9.8 billion allocated towards decommissioning activities. In line with this, the energy player announced the
adoption of a new policy a few months ago, mandating the recycling of vessels only in facilities equipped with dry
docks or impermeable surfaces with drainage systems.

According to the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, this off-the-beach stance places Petrobras among an increasing
number of responsible ship owners, including competitors, SBM Offshore and Shell, that are choosing facilities
with infrastructure enabling the safe and environmentally sound management of their end-of-life assets.

Mulinaris further adds: “After years of selling numerous old vessels for dirty and dangerous shipbreaking on the
shores of South Asia, Petrobras has finally committed to environmental stewardship by unequivocally disavowing
such practices.

“Moreover, their decision to opt for a domestic solution, leveraging the state-of-the-art infrastructure available in
Brazil, showcases that it is possible to find alternative and better solutions to beaching.”

The FPSO Anna Nery started production at the Marlim and Voador revitalisation project on 7 May 2023. This
FPSO is anchored in a water depth of 927 metres and interconnected to 32 wells, with peak production
scheduled for 2025.
Offshore Energy Today




 
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