Lula defends direct sale of diesel and criticism privatizations

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defended, on Monday (17), that Petrobras Diesel sells directly to large consumers, eliminating intermediaries who, according to him, make fuel and penalize the population.

“Petrobras has to take action. We need to sell diesel to major consumers directly, if you can buy it straight, so we can cheapen the price of diesel, ”said the president

During an event in Angra dos Reis (RJ), Lula also criticized the privatization and stressed that the sale of BR Distribuidora only benefited private investors, without bringing advantages to the Brazilian people.

In his speech, the president stated that the disparity between the price of diesel in the refinery and the amount charged at gas stations originates from private intermediation. “Petrobras sells diesel for $ 3.04, and at the bomb it costs more than $ 6.49. That is, the people are being robbed by the intermediary, ”he said.

Lula argued that the state -owned company should directly provide fuel to companies and strategic sectors such as cargo and agribusiness transportation to reduce operating costs and, consequently, the final price to the consumer. “If you can sell straight, so we can cheaper the price of diesel, we will do it,” he said.

The president also criticized the population’s lack of information about the composition of fuel prices. “The people need to know who cursing when it increases. Petrobras leads to fame, but states and intermediaries are free to define profit margins that harm the consumer, ”he said.

The defense of direct sale of diesel was accompanied by a striking criticism of the privatization of BR Distribuidora (today vibra), sold by the government of Jair Bolsonaro in 2019. Lula classified privatization as a strategic error that withdrew from Petrobras control over the distribution of the distribution of fuels and favored private groups.

“I was offended when they privatized BR Distribuidora. Who won with it? The people, Petrobras? No. Who won was the one who bought, and very cheap, ”he said.

The president argued that the sale of state assets does not reduce costs or improve services, but only transfers strategic sectors for financial market control. “Brazil has seen this movie: they sell our companies at a banana price, and then the population pays more for the service,” he criticized.

Diesel’s direct sales proposal may face resistance from private distributors, who profit from fuel intermediation. In addition, experts indicate that change would require regulatory changes in the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) and could generate a reaction from the financial sector, which has significant shareholding in distribution companies.

Still, the government evaluates alternatives to enable the model and expand Petrobras’ role in regulating prices. Lula argued that the state has responsibility to prevent market abuse and ensure that the population has access to cheaper fuels.

“If Petrobras is a state -owned company, it needs to help the Brazilian people. You can’t let the market only decide what is best for the country, ”concluded the president.