Bolsonaro turns up heat on Petrobras
Threat of subsidies and political interference grows as under-pressure president refuses to accept rising domestic fuel prices
Management at Brazilian state oil and gas firm Petrobras has been a revolving door under President Jair Bolsonaro. The NOC has had four CEOs in the nearly three-and-a-half years since the president took office, and the dysfunctional relationship shows little sign of improving. Caio Paes de Andrade—a former economy minister official who, once again, has zero oil and gas experience—is the latest to take the top job as Bolsonaro tries to wrest control of the company. For months, Brazil’s president has raged at the NOC’s fuel-pricing policy, which, combined with rising inflation, has seen him drop behind former president Lula da Silva in the polls ahead of October’s general election. Focusing on
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent






