Scientific research institutions are mobilizing against the approval of Provisional Measure 1,112, which intends to establish the Road Fleet Productivity Increase Program (Renovar), to replace old heavy vehicles.
The target of the controversy is the device that allows the use of research, development and innovation resources from the oil and gas sector for the disassembly and disposal of truck parts as scrap, without limiting the volume of resources destined for this purpose.
Law 9,478/97 requires oil companies to allocate 0.5% to 1% of their gross revenue from oil production to research and development projects.
In 2021, according to data from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), the amount allocated to fulfill these obligations was BRL 3.03 billion. Amount that can be applied in own research centers or in partnerships with science and technology institutions.
Through a note from the Initiative for Science and Technology in Parliament (ICTP), signed by eight entities that comprise it, with the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) and the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC) among them, the sector understands that, with the measure, “Brazil exchanges knowledge for scrap”.
This is the title of the manifesto, addressed to members of the National Congress.
The document highlights that, thanks to the resources made possible by the law, it was possible to build more than 150 state-of-the-art laboratories throughout the country, in addition to establishing agreements and contracts with 200 universities and research institutes.
“These resources enabled the development of technologies for obtaining green hydrogen, wind energy on offshore platforms and biofuels, all of which have a great positive impact on the environment and climate”, says an excerpt.
ICTP President, former Minister of Science and Technology Celso Pansera explains that the sector has been articulated.
The notes and meetings with parliamentarians have already resulted in the presentation of amendments against the proposal. He emphasizes that the group is not against the project itself. The criticism has to do with the financing modality of the initiative.
“If the pre-salt layer is profitable today and makes up an important part of the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product (GDP), this has to do with the investments in research made in the 1990s and 2000s, such as those made by the Petrobras Research Center (Cenpes) and from Coppe, from UFRJ, which allowed us to advance in extraction technology. It’s something that works well. If the government wants to renew the fleet, which is correct, it could transfer BNDES resources for this purpose”, says Pansera.
The amendments already presented by federal deputies and senators intend to remove from the text references to the funding source for Renovar. The law applies to all oil companies.
Among science and technology institutions, UFRJ is the main beneficiary, with around R$ 300 million annually, through agreements with different companies.
Of this amount, approximately R$ 200 million are allocated annually to Coppe, the unit that coordinates the institution’s graduate engineering courses.
Director of Coppe, Professor Romildo Toledo recalls that UFRJ is the largest scientific partner institution of Petrobras, and that it closed contracts with other companies in the sector after the company lost its state oil monopoly in 1997.
“They are resources for several very important scientific institutions and laboratories. In addition to these resources having allowed technological advances for pre-salt exploration, today they finance initiatives that involve the development of technologies to obtain green hydrogen, financed wind energy on offshore platforms and initiatives for biofuels. There are many research and qualification programs for the sector. Although Petrobras has Cenpes, the partnership with UFRJ allows it to access another 40 research networks, for example,” explains Toledo.
When questioned, the Ministry of Energy Mines argues that the federal law in force provides that the law’s resources be used to “mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants in the energy and transport sectors, including the use of biofuels”, and highlights that this is one of the objectives of renewing the truck fleet.
The agency also highlighted that, with the increase in the price and production of natural gas observed this year, record investments are expected in research, development and innovation in natural gas, not a reduction.
The ministry also informed that “the allocation of research, development and innovation resources to the Renovar program will be an option for contracted companies, subject to regulation by the Executive Branch.
In the regulation, the maintenance of investments contemplating universities and research centers should be considered”.
The National Association of Directors of Federal Institutions of Higher Education (Andifes), the National Council of State Foundations for the Support of Research (Confap), the National Council of Foundations to Support Higher Education Institutions and Scientific and Technological Research (Confies), National Council of Institutions of the Federal Network of Professional, Scientific and Technological Education (Conif), National Council of State Secretaries for ST&I Affairs (Coneti) and the Brazilian Institute of Smart, Human & Sustainable Cities.
Source: CNN Brasil
