BRASILIA, Feb 19 — Brazil announced yesterday its decision to join Opec+, a bloc that gathers members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and observer nations, reported Xinhua.
Announcing the decision, Mines and Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira said there is no contradiction in Brazil joining Opec+ and pursuing environmental commitments it has made, ahead of the country’s hosting of the climate change conference COP30 in November.
“It is a historic moment for Brazil and the energy industry, which opens a new chapter in the history of dialogue and cooperation in the field of energy,” the minister said.
“It is just a forum to discuss the strategies of oil-producing countries. We should not be ashamed of being oil producers,” said Silveira, after heading a meeting of the National Energy Policy Council.
Brazil will also be joining the Opec Charter on Cooperation, which the bloc describes as a framework for “facilitating cooperation and dialogue, including at the technical and research levels, among its participants in the interest of oil market stability”.
The Brazilian government also announced its decision to join the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency.
Representatives from the Finance, Presidency, Foreign, Environment, and Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Ministries participated in yesterday’s meeting.
— Bernama
