Brazil announced on Tuesday that it has officially joined a charter under the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, aimed at facilitating discussions on energy transition and technological advancements in the oil sector.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva first revealed in December 2023 that Brazil—the world’s eighth-largest oil producer—would engage with OPEC+. However, the details of its involvement remained unclear until now.
OPEC+ consists of 12 core OPEC members and 10 other major oil-producing nations that collaborate on production and pricing policies.
Unlike full members, Brazil will take on an advisory role in the Charter of Cooperation (COC) and will not be obligated to adhere to production cuts or price controls.
According to Brazil’s energy ministry, the charter serves as a platform for discussions on energy transition and technological progress.
The ministry added that Brazil’s participation could help push forward debates on clean and alternative energy financing and decarbonisation strategies.
The move has drawn criticism from environmental groups, particularly as Brazil is set to host the COP30 UN climate summit in November in the Amazonian city of Belém.
The Climate Observatory NGO condemned the decision, calling it “a new nail in the coffin of the energy transition in Brazil.”
Despite Lula’s positioning of Brazil as a global leader in climate action, his administration continues to defend oil exploration as a key driver of economic growth.
His government has faced backlash over its push for an oil drilling project at the mouth of the Amazon River.
Extreme weather events have increasingly impacted Brazil in recent years, with floods, droughts, and wildfires linked to climate change. A record-breaking heatwave is currently sweeping through major cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Suely Araújo of the Climate Observatory criticised Brazil’s continued investment in fossil fuel expansion amid worsening climate conditions, calling it “denialism.”
Alongside its OPEC+ participation, Brazil also announced that it is joining the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), signalling an effort to balance its oil interests with commitments to clean energy.
