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Petrobras will sponsor the construction of 20,000 systems to capture water in the semi-arid region

The social project will create conditions to increase the water supply for 210 municipalities, 60% of them in the Company's area of influence

Petrobras will sponsor the Uma Terra, Duas Águas Program (P1+2), which will build 20,000 systems to capture and store water in 210 municipalities in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The program will be developed by the Associação Um Milhão de Cisternas Rurais para o Semiárido Brasileiro (AP1MC, or the Association for One Million Rural Cisterns for the Brazilian Semi-arid region), an organization linked to the Articulação Semiárido Brasileiro (ASA, or Brazilian Semi-Arid Articulation).

The Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger asked companies and institutions to get involved in combating the drought and to help shape the public policies related to living in the semi-arid region. After an analysis of the program, Petrobras decided to invest R$ 200 million, over a 12-month period, in the P1+2. Support for the initiative includes various activities to cope with the longest drought in the region in the last 50 years. The aim is to promote rural development, stimulate income generation and ensure safe food for 20,000 farming families.

The action will be part of the Petrobras Development & Citizenship Program. Through this program, Petrobras supports social projects throughout Brazil to promote the guaranteed rights of children and adolescents, income generation, job opportunities and professional qualifications.

With its past experiences in implementing projects of this nature and with the effective results already achieved, ASA is now recognized as one of the world's major coordinators and stimulators to support the availability of water. Furthermore, there were various analyses of the opinions and reports from private partners and regulatory and government agencies related to programs already implemented, which support the institution's capability and the efficiency of those programs.

Approximately 60% of the municipalities benefited are in a Petrobras System's area of influence. The region is strategically important to the Company, which has continuously increased its presence in the Northeast and in the semi-arid region. Currently, the region has Exploration and Production units, refining, biodiesel plants, lubricant and fertilizer plants, as well as gas stations, pipelines and gas pipelines networks.

Simple and low-cost solutions

The 20,000 systems will be used to capture rainwater, which can be used in food production or animal husbandry for subsistence consumption, in addition to solidarity exchanges and small scale trading. Although the region has long dry periods, it registers an average of 750 mm of rainfall per year, which ensures the availability of water for the reservoirs.

Based on local conditions, one of four types of water capture and storage systems will be chosen: covered tank cisterns, runoff cisterns, trench-barrier and underground dams. All these solutions are considered as simple, low-cost, easy to implement and have been adapted to the living conditions of the rural population in the semi-arid region.

Sustainable land and water management

To carry out the project 1,300 builders will be trained, for one year, in construction techniques designed to capture rainwater. Additionally, there are plans for the construction of places to store seeds and seedling nurseries. These actions are part of a broader strategy aimed to support the articulation, strengthening and empowerment of society by providing training of sustainable land and water management.

When choosing the families that are to receive the systems, priority will be given to those with a per capita income of up to half the minimum wage, located in rural areas, with children up to six years old or with children and adolescents enrolled and attending school. Also eligible are families that have adults 65 years old or older, physically or mentally disabled family members and those with the woman as the head of the household. Technical conditions will also be analyzed, such as the available area and the geological and soil characteristics.

Committed to social development

Contributing to local, regional and national development and promoting the productive and dignified social inclusion of low-income population are some of Petrobras' Development & Citizenship program goals, and the program already invests in other initiatives in the Brazilian semi-arid region. It has the UNICEF Municipal Seal of Approval, which works to protect the rights of children and adolescents in nearly 1,500 municipalities.

By investing in social activities, Petrobras reaffirms the company's social responsibility, in accordance with its Strategic Plan. At the same time, the company contributes to strengthening public policies, since it understands that companies are able to respond to social needs more effectively when they provide technical capabilities and financial resources in synergy with actions by the government and civil organizations.
Petrobras News Agency




 
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