Petrobras has signed a cooperation agreement with the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), with administrative support from Fapex, to develop a pilot project for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in a shallow marine environment—an initiative seen as strategic for the company’s energy-transition agenda. The agreement involves total funding of R$ 113.2 million, split into two installments (R$ 110 million and R$ 3.2 million), and an initial duration of three years, with the possibility of extension.
The resources will finance the acquisition of equipment and permanent materials, laboratory upgrades, and the development of advanced measurement, monitoring, and verification (MMV) methodologies designed to detect and track potential CO₂ leaks in CCS facilities installed in shallow waters. The partnership aims to build robust and economically viable monitoring and safety protocols capable of identifying very small emissions and quickly spotting anomalies under conditions similar to those expected in real offshore carbon-storage projects along the Brazilian coast.
By investing in this pilot with UFBA, Petrobras seeks to strengthen Brazil’s scientific and technological base for CCS, reduce technical uncertainty about applying the technology offshore, and pave the way for larger-scale initiatives in the future. The project aligns with decarbonization targets and the need to keep the company competitive as environmental requirements for the energy sector become more demanding.
Photo: Canva
