Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Edison Lobao confirmed Wednesday that Iran had extended an invitation for the country to join the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the Estado news agency reported Wednesday.
The minister confirmed a report late Tuesday by Folha Online, saying that the offer was made to join OPEC by an Iranian ambassador.
Lobao told Folha that the offer to join OPEC was evidence that Brazil's new position as an oil power was recognized internationally.
According to Lobao, OPEC members believe Brazil will beceome one of the world's largest oil producers. Discussions about Brazil's possible OPEC membership began months ago, after state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR), or Petrobras, announced the massive Tupi find in the pre-salt layer of the Santos Basin.
In November, Petrobras estimated Tupi's recoverable reserves at between 5 billion and 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
Brazil took a further step in its development of pre-salt oil deposits Tuesday, with the start of crude oil production at the first pre-salt well in the Jubarte field off the coast of Espirito Santo state.
The country's government has so far been cool to OPEC membership, preferring to focus its efforts on vertical integration of the domestic oil industry. Petrobras has recently announced a series of refinery investments totaling more than $100 billion that include premium refineries to produce high-quality diesel and gasoline for export.
Furthermore, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that Brazil will not be an exporter of crude oil but an exporter of high-value petroleum derivatives.