A protecão marítima do comércio exterior de petróleo do Brasil petróleo do Brasil : desafios e oportunidades para a Marinha do Brasil

Abstract

Oil is considered a strategic resource by States, being able to strongly contribute to the energy security and prosperity of a country. The trend for the next 30 years is for countries to remain heavily dependent on oil, as there are still no new technological and geopolitical paradigms capable of replacing this reality. The war in Ukraine has made it clear that the desired energy transition cannot overcome the energy security of countries, in a world where oil and gas are responsible for more than half of the world's energy demand. Favored by territorial and geopolitical advantages, which other producing countries do not have, Brazil will be able to definitively reposition itself at the forefront of exploration around the globe, as a major producer and exporter of hydrocarbons. However, Brazil's growing foreign oil trade is under constant threat, as in the 21st century, pirate attacks and armed robbery against oil tankers can be seen in regions such as the Gulf of Guinea, Southeast Asia, Gulf of Aden and Caribbean Sea. On the other hand, international oil companies are becoming interested in other, less troubled offshore exploration regions, such as the Pré-sal in Brazil. This opportunity contributes to the expansion of production and exports of oil and natural gas in the country, which, until now, has not recorded any acts of piracy on its coast. In both cases, it is necessary to recognize the essential need of the Brazilian Navy (MB) to guarantee the maritime protection of ships and oil platforms against these illicit acts, even removing the risk of migration of these attacks to the Blue Amazon™. Thus, this study analyzes the Tamandaré Class Frigates Program (PFCT) and the Brazilian Ocean Patrol Vessels Project (NPaOc-BR), in the face of threats to maritime security of merchant traffic of interest to the Brazilian oil industry; as well as it identifies opportunities for the MB to raise extrabudgetary resources, to enable the construction of the NPaOc-BR in the short term