Brazil lobbying against proposed Bolivian hydrocarbons bill

The Brazilian government issued a statement saying that it has been lobbying Bolivia on behalf of international investments made by Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras).

Dec. 7, 2004

Peter Howard Wertheim
OGJ correspondent

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 7 --The Brazilian government issued a statement saying that it has been lobbying Bolivia on behalf of international investments made by Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras).

The Bolivian government is debating hydrocarbons legislation that could nationalize management of oil and natural gas. Parliamentary debate on the law began in November.

Brazilian presidential special envoy Marco Aurelio García met with Bolivia President Carlos Mesa and with Evo Morales, the main advocate of confiscatory hydrocarbons legislation, on behalf of Petrobras.

After that meeting, Morales said he was willing to support a more moderate proposal. He said he changed his mind because of an energy integration project with Brazil.