OPINION: Any doubts that Jean Paul Prates was keen to implement a greener agenda as chief executive of Petrobras were dispelled soon after he took the reins of the state-controlled company.

In his first public appearance since being confirmed as chief executive, the former Brazil’s Workers’ Party (PT) senator attended a conference focused on energy innovation and sustainability, highlighting that Petrobras will increase investments and be more proactive in helping to develop cleaner energy sources.

To some degree, this was widely expected, as Prates, while a senator, was behind bills proposing a regulatory framework for offshore wind and carbon capture and storage

Before leaving the Senate to take up his new position at Petrobras, Prates took time to roll out more proposals to lay the regulatory groundwork for green hydrogen projects.