Petrobras aims to begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced from Brazil's pre-salt fields to Asian markets, CEO Magda Chambriard said on Thursday during the christening of two new production vessels in Singapore.
The state-controlled energy giant plans to liquefy natural gas offshore using floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) units, with technical support from Singapore-based naval engineering firm Seatrium. The vessels, FPSOs P-80 and P-82, are under construction at Seatrium's Singapore shipyard for deployment at the Búzios field, Brazil's largest offshore oil field.
Chambriard highlighted Asia-Pacific as a strategic export destination, noting that the region already accounts for the majority of Petrobras's crude oil shipments. "We see room to export gas via LNG ships," she said. "This will be the next step. Today we export a lot of oil to Asia-Pacific, it is our main destination. And, looking ahead, we see that it may also become the main destination for gas."
Seatrium President Chris Ong emphasized the company's experience in converting LNG carriers into operational FLNG units, positioning it to collaborate with Petrobras on monetizing offshore gas assets. "We will certainly work with Petrobras to evaluate how we can add value in another part of the supply chain with floating LNG units," Ong said.
The initiative reflects Petrobras's broader strategy to expand its presence in high-growth energy markets amid rising global LNG demand. The Búzios field, operated by Petrobras with partners including Shell and TotalEnergies, is expected to contribute significantly to Brazil's oil and gas output in the coming years. The FPSOs P-80 and P-82 are part of a broader fleet expansion aimed at sustaining production levels from the pre-salt layer, which currently accounts for roughly 70% of Brazil's total oil output.
