By the end of this year, Petrobras should announce a reduction in the price of gasoline. According to GloboNews, the price reduction is being studied by the company. A measure must be announced together with a new fuel price policy, whose criterion will be the alignment of the price practiced in Brazil with those of the international market. Today, gasoline sold in Brazil is up to 30% more expensive than the average price abroad – the calculations are made by economists who follow this market. Fuel prices last rose in September last year, with a 6% increase for gasoline and a 4% increase for diesel. Since then, Petrobras has obtained a high profit margin from sales, allowing the company to recover part of the losses it had in the period when the government forced it to keep prices artificially repressed. The new fuel price policy is being prepared by the Petrobras board. The first step will be to standardize the values according to the international table. If the policy is adopted, prices will fluctuate, either downwards or upwards, according to the variation of the dollar and the price of oil in the international market. The new proposal being studied at Petrobras must be transparent. The intention is to attract partnerships for investments in oil refining, today practically a state monopoly. These partnerships could involve both refineries already in operation and projects not yet completed.
