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Transpetro inks orders for 9 oil tankers
AP
Mexico City
Petroleumworld.com 04 12 07
Transpetro, a unit of Brazil's state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA, signed contracts Wednesday worth US$866 million (euro646 million) for the construction of nine new oil tankers - a much-needed boost for Rio's shipbuilding industry.The Rio Naval consortium will build five Aframax tankers for US$517 million (euro385.6 million), and four Panamax oil tankers for $349 million (euro260.3 million), Petrobras said in a statement.
The vessels are to join Transpetro's fleet between 2009 and 2011, and are part of a US$2.48 billion (euro1.85 billion) program to buy 26 new oil vessels in an initial phase. The first phase will create 11,000 direct jobs in Rio de Janeiro state alone, Petrobras said.
The shipbuilding program is financed by Brazil's National Development Bank and aims to bring down Petrobras' costs for chartering ships and to revitalize Brazil's once-flourishing shipbuilding industry.
Petrobras said it plans later to raise the number of new oil vessels to 42.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Petrobras Chief Executive Sergio Gabrielli attended the signing ceremony at a the Sermetal shipyard in Rio de Janeiro.
"We want independence and autonomy," Silva at the ceremony. "It's not possible that other executives of this country haven't realized ... the potential of the Brazilian naval industry."
In late January, Petrobras said it would pay US$1.2 billion (euro895 million) for the construction of 10 Suezmax oil tankers by a consortium of four construction companies.
AP 11 04 07
Copyright© 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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