PROCOP: disclosure of cost reduction targets with potential savings of R$ 32 billion in the 2013-2016 period

Rio de Janeiro, December 19^th, 2012 – Petróleo Brasileiro SA – Petrobras discloses the targets of the Operating Costs Optimization Program (Procop), one of the Structuring programs of the 2012-2016 Business and Management Plan (PNG 2012-2016).

Procop has three main objectives:

Ø  In the financial realm, increase cash generation within the scope of the PNG 2012-2016;

Ø In the operational realm, boost productivity  of its activities based on internal and external benchmarks;

Ø In the organizational realm, consolidate the cost-efficient  management model.

The scope of the program encompasses activities in Brazil, in the Exploration and Production, Downstream and Gas and Energy segments, including logistics operated by subsidiary Transpetro, and processes that support operations, such as materials supply, parts and fuels inventories and information technology.

The Program was conducted in three phases:

Ø  Phase I: from June to August 2012, the objective was to establish a preliminary vision of the focus areas and optimization potential. From the company’s cost map, a list of opportunities were identified, classified and prioritized;

Ø  Phase II: from September to November 2012, was dedicated to further analysis and detailing of the opportunities identified in Phase I, and the precise quantification of the associated gain;

Ø  Phase III: Implementation Plan, now completed, consolidating targets, individuals responsible and each initiative’s milestones.

Starting from the manageable cost base of R$ 63 billion realized in 2011, 39 significant optimization opportunities were prioritized in productive and support processes, which are directly related to a cost base of R$ 43bn (i.e., 70% of the R$ 63bn total).

Expenditures not encompassed by the program (R$ 20 billion) are related to activities in R&D, Engineering, Exploration, Communications, Social Responsibility, Financial Department and other management processes, as well as expenditures related to internal transactions in the Petrobras System (accounting eliminations between companies).

Therefore, these 39 opportunities were detailed and translated into 515 cost optimization initiatives, with operational and multiyear targets, consolidated in work plans detailed for each initiative.

This set of initiatives allowed the establishment of the reduction target of R$ 8bn, or 19% of  manageable costs under consideration (R$ 63bn). In other words, had all the initiatives been implemented in 2011, these costs would have been 19% lower in that year.

This potential is now going to be gradually and progressively attained starting in 2013, according to initiatives planned in detail, and will allow Petrobras to lower its operating costs by R$ 32bn in the 2013- 2016 period.

For comparison’s sake, this amount is higher than the total investment portfolio of the Gas and Power segment (US$ 13.8 billion), higher than the divestment program (US$ 14.8 billion) and equivalent to the annual funding needs (US$ 16 – US$ 18 billion a year) considered in the PNG 2012-2016.

Procop initiatives deal primarily with increasing productivity of the company’s operational processes. Below are some of the main ones:

Exploration and Production:

·     Reduction in fuel consumption for offshore production equipment;

·     Reduction in the annual cost of onshore well intervention;

·     Increase in the utilization factor of Natural Gas Processing Units;

·     Reduction in the number of vessels per Offshore Unit served;

·     Increase in productive rig days for workover activities.

Downstream:

·     Increase in the efficiency of routine maintenance costs and scheduled stoppages in Refining;

·     Reduction in the specific consumption of chemicals at refineries;

·     Reduction in waste generation, decreasing reprocessing in Refining;

·     Reduction in the number of excess hours of lay days at ports;

·     Improve efficiency in the use of the maritime fleet;

·     Optimize product delivery schedule, reducing logistical costs.

Transpetro:

·     Reduction in maintenance costs by optimizing and standardizing routine interventions at terminals, oil pipelines, gas pipelines and tanks;

·           Reduction in procurements in the spot market and increase in the utilization of contracts and joint procurements for materials with Petrobras

Gas and Energy:

·     Reduction in the specific consumption of natural gas in the ammonia production process;

·           Centralization of procurements and sharing of inventories among fertilizers plants;

·           Reduction in operating costs on the gas pipeline network through the optimization of compression services

In the remaining processes that support operations:

·     On Information Technology and Telecommunications, reduction in operating costs per user;

·     Reduction in facilities, travel and road transportation costs.

Cost optimization targets are under the direct responsibility of each Executive Director, and will be monitored monthly by the Executive Board and sent to the Board of Directors for quarterly evaluation, through specific operational indicators.