Petrobras President Maria das Graças Silva Foster announced at public hearing in the Brazilian Senate that the company plans to invest R$4 billion in 2013 and R$21.2 billion between 2013-2017 in information technology and telecommunications.
Foster discussed Petrobras' aggressive efforts to safeguard its data, citing that of the 195.9 million emails the company received during August 9 and September 9, only 16.5 million arrived at their destinations due to pre-emptive blocking.
Foster also discussed Petrobras' integrated data processing center, whereby strategic information does not go through the Internet. "The company's knowledge is held at the data processing center. Critical information is stored in an encrypted closed system. Access to the center is controlled with biometrics, weighing and monitoring with cameras," she said. Foster added that, despite working with partner companies and suppliers, only Petrobras holds all the information, only allowing the company to read them. Additionally, Petrobras has contracts that provide for confidentiality.
The appearance before the the Brazilian senate comes after local new reports of the the US National Security Agency spying on Petrobras' systems. Foster said no violation of Petrobras systems had been recorded. "Systems used by Petrobras are among the most advanced on the market," she said. Foster also called the reports discomforting.
Senators at the hearing asked Foster whether the Libra auction, scheduled for October 21, should be postponed because of the espionage allegations. Foster said that because the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas Natural and Biofuels (ANP) provides the data to all the bidders, there should be no reason for delay.
"I apologize if I seem arrogant, but I don't know of any other company that is as well prepared for Libra. Because it was Petrobras that defined the lease, drilled and made the discovery. It has the data, information and infrastructure." she said.
Petrobras' Libra field is located in the Santos basin, 170 km off the coast of Rio de Janiero, covering 1500sq km.
Petrobras is targeting pre-salt production of 2 million b/d by 2020. The company also already announced investment plans of US$236.7 billion over the next five years, with US$106 billion going toward production development, US$24 billion toward exploration and US$16 billion towards infrastructure and support.
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