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Enron Mail |
Strike began at midnight, the first one in 6 years. It
is concentrated in the Campos Basin, which produces about 80% of Brazil's petroleum. Unless there is progress, workers intend to stay out until Sunday. Union said 70% of workers out. Effects on Oil Production On its first day, the strike of Petrobras workers caused a drop of 60.2% in oil production, according to the state-run company. Wednesday's output was 550,000 barrels, compared with 1.383 million on Tuesday. At the Campos Basin (responsible for 80% of national crude output) production plunged 76.2%, to 250,000 barrels from 1.050 million, according to Petrobras. Production also dropped in Espirito Santo, Rio Grando do Norte, Bahia and Alagos. Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper reported that distribution terminals Alemoa, Sao Caetano, Sao Sebastiao, Guararaema, Guarulhos and Barueri, all in Sao Paulo state, were paralyzed. In Rio de Janeiro state the Macae and Governor's Island terminals were stopped. Other terminals on strike were Vitoria and Alagoas, according to Folha. The United Oil Workers Federation, which represents 20 unions and 35,000 workers, said that the strike caused production in the Campos Basin to decline 85% on Wednesday. The union said that 37 out of 38 platforms are paralyzed, pumping only natural gas. The union said that crude production fell to 156,000 barrels from 1.045 million barrels in the Campos Basin. Production in other locations was slowed 70% to 80%, according to the union. Refined Products According to union, only 2 out of 11 refineries (Minas Gerais & Rio Grande do Sul) are still running. Petrobras said that its 11 refineries produced 1.76 million barrels of gasoline on Wednesday; the union gave no figure. Petrobras' 2000 Refinery statistics are posted at http://www2.petrobras.com.br/portal/ingles/frame_ri.asp?pagina=/ri/ingles/destaques/des_abastecimento.stm Natural Gas O Globo newspaper of Rio and O Estado newspaper of Sao Paulo both said that natural gas production fell 34.2% to 25 million cubic meters from 38 million cubic meters. Negotiations Petrobras demands that strikers return to work at nine platforms in the Campos Basin, to guarantee natural gas production, and five others to prevent leakage as a precondition to resuming negotiations Thursday morning, Brazilian newspapers reported Thursday. The union said it would take the issue to striking workers and would give an answer Thursday morning. According to Brazilian news reports, the company is holding a second round of talks with the union. First round earlier in day was fruitless. The union says they want to see a better wage proposal than before if they want workers to keep operations running at a minimum.
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