The current model of exploration of oil reserves located in the pre-salt area, in the Brazilian continental platform, will be discussed during a public hearing to be promoted by the Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation, Communication and Informatics (CCT). The request, presented by senators Gim Argello (PTB-DF) and Antonio Carlos Junior (DEM-BA), was approved during a meeting on Wednesday (13).

The pre-salt reserves, as Argello observed, are located in an area of 800 km in length and 200 km wide, starting from the coast of Espírito Santo, going all the way to the state of Santa Catarina. Only in the Tupi field, there is something between five and eight billion barrels of oil, located under more than six thousand meters of water.

Argello said he’s interested in knowing which technologies will be used in the extraction of oil in these reserves. He also reminded recent statements made by president Lula, in which the president affirms that the oil located in deep waters is a “patrimony of the country”, and could not be owned by “half a dozen private companies”.

Senator Eduardo Azeredo (PSDB-MG) understands that a public hearing should be held so that senators could gather more information on the exploration of these new reserves. He also wants to debate the destination of royalties to be paid by the exploration of oil in deep waters, but rejected the creation of a new state company that would be responsible for the new reserves.

Senator Flexa Ribeiro (PSDB-PA) said he did not understand why Lula would want to change the national Oil Law, as the president announced during a meeting with students from the National Students Union (UNE), in Rio de Janeiro. Antonio Carlos Junior observed that, according to the government, Petrobras would be holding too much power, and the profit from its activities would end in the hands of private stockholders.

Members from the boarder of Petrobras and businessmen, such as Eike Batista, will be invited to the meeting.