In January 4th, Ricardo Becker, partner of the law firm, met with the Governor of Santa Catarina State, Mr. Luiz Henrique and several State Secretaries, presenting Indian entrepreneurs that initiated research of oil shale north of the State.  

The Indian project for the region intends to construct a refinery that will generate over 2.000 direct jobs.

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Florianópolis (4/1/2007) - The governor Luiz Henrique and the vice-governor Leonel Pavan received Thursday afternoon (4), in the Administrative Center Office, the Indian entrepreneur Rajnish Julka, manager of Oswal Chemicals, established in New Delhi, escorted by a group of national investors and entrepreneurs. The company that opened it's office on Brazil about six months ago, initiated a viability reasearch on the northern region of the State in order to implement an oil refinery that intend to extract oil shale as well as natural gas, sulphur and the production of thermoelectric energy. The research will have an initial investment of US$ 1,2 billion.

The entrepreneurs, which had an initial contact with the vice-governor Leonel Pavan last month, in Balneário Camboriú, came to communicate the beginning of the research exploration to the governor and also to project future partnerships. If the enterprise is sucessful it can generate a final amount of US$ 8 billions in investments plus two thousand direct jobs. "It will be a massive investment to the State if it comes to pass", spoke the governor Luiz Henrique. The vice-governor Leonel Pavan added that the injection of financial resources can grant economical development to the northern region, considered to be an area of low social indicators.

The manager of Oswal Brasil S/A, José Luiz Brandão, informed that the company already obtained authorization of the National Department of Mineral Research (NDMR) to initiate geological research in an area of 16 thousand hectares located between the cities of Três Barras, Papanduva and Canoinhas. The research will indicate the capacity of exploration of the oil shale, also involving part of the State of Paraná. The researches will take place throughout this year and, if they attest the viability of the investment, the construction of the refinery will start in the beginning of 2008. The State Secretary of Treasury, Sergio Alves; the president of SC Parcerias, Alaor Tissot ad the executive-secretary of the International Articulation, Vinícius Lummentz, also participated in the meeting with the governor's office.