Petroleo Brasileiro SA stepped up security at its refineries in a precautionary measure after threats against assets, including Brazil’s biggest fuel plant, two company officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The threats were detected by Petrobras’ intelligence unit monitoring social media communications of supporters of Brazil’s far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, the two people said.
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The state-controlled company said on Sunday night all its assets and refineries were operating normally.
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“Petrobras is taking all the preventative protective measures required, as a standard procedure,” it said in a statement.
Thousands of Bolsonaro’ supporters on Sunday invaded the country’s Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court, destroying furniture and shattering windows, in an echo of the U.S. Capitol invasion in Jan. 6, 2021, by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
The threats to Petrobras targeted assets such as refineries in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Parana states, the people said. Petrobras has a 1,000-person private security workforce and is working with state police.
Brazil’s Mines and Energy Minister, Alexandre Silveira, said Brazil’s fuel supply would run normally, as would the country’s refineries.
“Besides monitoring the status of protests in these structures, we remain alert and in coordination with other ministries and states to ensure the supply,” he said in a statement.
Rio de Janeiro’s governor Claudio Castro said on Twitter he had deployed on Saturday state and city police to reinforce security at Reduc, the state’s main refinery. (Reporting by Sabrina Valle in Houston; additional reporting by Rodrigo Viga in Rio. Editing by Christian Plumb and Gerry Doyle)
