New Appointment for Energy Transition and Sustainability Leadership Role at Petrobras
In a significant move towards a greener future, Brazilian oil giant Petrobras has outlined a strategic approach focused on energy transition and sustainability. Led by Angélica Laureano, the Executive Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability, the company aims to strike a balance between advancing renewable energy investments and modernizing its traditional oil and gas operations.
Petrobras' strategic vision is twofold: to lead Brazil's energy transition and sustainability goals by investing heavily in renewable energy and low-carbon projects, while simultaneously modernizing and decarbonizing its traditional oil and gas operations.
Key elements of this strategy include a commitment of $16.3 billion over five years towards wind, solar, and biofuels to diversify revenues and align with global sustainability trends. The company also plans to develop sustainable fuels production, such as biojet fuels and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), with a state-of-the-art biojet fuel facility slated for the Boaventura Energy Complex, producing 19,000 barrels per day of sustainable fuels.
Modernizing refining infrastructure is another crucial aspect of Petrobras' plans. Projects at the Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc) will focus on co-processing renewable inputs, enabling the production of renewable content jet fuel and diesel blends with renewable components.
The company is also implementing circular economy concepts, such as lubricant oil re-refining projects that convert used oil into high-value products, further reducing its environmental footprint.
Upgrading thermal power generation with efficient gas-fired plants integrated with renewable operations is another key focus area. This will enhance reliability and efficiency, replacing outdated equipment with modern thermal power plants, such as the 400 MW plants at the Boaventura complex and planned upgrades at Reduc.
Petrobras also advocates for regulatory reforms and transparency to enable efficient fuel distribution and reinvest savings into green initiatives. The successful implementation of these projects depends on regulatory evolution in Brazil to help scale these projects.
Petrobras aims to become an integrated energy company, leading the energy transition in Brazil by 2050, as outlined in its Strategic Plan 2050 and Business Plan 2025-2029.
This strategic vision reflects Laureano's executive oversight role in energy transition and sustainability. With a 45-year career, including 37 years at Petrobras, Laureano has worked in various areas, including Materials, Supply, Gas, and Energy.
The appointment of Laureano and the establishment of the Executive Office of Energy Transition and Sustainability in 2023 reaffirm Petrobras' commitment to diversity and gender equity. The Executive Board is now composed of five women, including one serving as president, out of a total of nine members.
Petrobras President Magda Chambriard emphasizes the importance of increasing female participation in all sectors of the company and encourages more women to aspire to leadership positions, especially in the oil and gas sector. This marks the first time in Petrobras' history that the senior management has more women than men.
As Petrobras moves forward with its ambitious plans, it reaffirms its leading role in the Brazilian market, paving the way for a sustainable energy future.
- Angélica Laureano, Petrobras' Executive Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability, leads the company's strategic approach, which involves energy transition, sustainability, and decarbonization.
- Petrobras' strategic vision includes a significant investment of $16.3 billion over five years towards renewable energy and low-carbon projects, such as wind, solar, and biofuels.
- Petrobras plans to develop sustainable fuels production, like biojet fuels and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), as part of its commitment to environmental-science and health-and-wellness.
- The company's strategy also includes modernizing its traditional oil and gas operations and implementing circular economy concepts, such as lubricant oil re-refining projects.
- Financial investments are being made to upgrade thermal power generation with efficient gas-fired plants integrated with renewable operations to enhance reliability and efficiency.
- Petrobras is advocating for regulatory reforms, transparency, and diversity-and-inclusion, especially in terms of increasing female participation in leadership positions within the industry, as part of its Business Plan 2025-2029.
