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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of January, 2007

Commission File Number 1-15106



PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. - PETROBRAS
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Brazilian Petroleum Corporation - PETROBRAS
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)



Avenida República do Chile, 65
20031-912 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Federative Republic of Brazil
(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. 

Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes _______ No___X____


Main Petrobras Projects in the Growth Acceleration Plan (GAP)


(Rio de Janeiro, January 23 2007). – PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S/A - PETROBRAS, [Bovespa: PETR3/PETR4, NYSE: PBR/PBRA, Latibex: XPBR/XPBRA, BCBA: APBR/APBRA], a Brazilian international energy company, announces that the Brazilian Growth Acceleration Plan (GAP) launched by the Federal Government yesterday (1/22) includes 183 of Petrobras’ Strategic Plan projects, representing investments in the order of R$171.7 billion (US$68.7 billion using the planning exchange rate of R$2.50) in oil and gas and in renewable fuel programs to be made by Petrobras and its partners through 2010. This investment (R$171.7 billion), to be made through 2010 and only in Brazil, reflects outlays already included in the 2007-11 Business Plan adjusted for revisions in costs of certain projects already approved by the Board of Directors, notably the Rio de Janeiro State Petrochemical Complex (Comperj), the Abreu e Lima Refinery in Pernambuco, the ethanol export pipelines and the Gas Production Anticipation Plan (Plangás).

Underpinned by socio-environmental responsibility and profitability principles, the Strategic Plan is in line with the GAP’s goals. In consonance with the company’s goals, the GAP’s premises for the sector include:

The wide-ranging project portfolio Petrobras’ Business Plan encompasses for the 2007-2010 period also seeks to grow oil and gas reserves, to expand transportation and distribution infrastructure, and to augment alternate and renewable fuel and energy source research and development.
To keep increasing production in the long-term as well, Petrobras has been enhancing its exploratory portfolio and currently has, for future exploration, upwards of a hundred blocks it has purchased in National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel Agency (NPA) auctions, in addition to several areas overseas. This allows it to set a production goal of some 4,556,000 barrels a day for 2015. Meanwhile, for the latter portion of the decade, it is expected the company’s total oil and gas production will cap at 3,493,000 barrels per day, 2,925,000 lifted from Brazilian fields. Aside from the several ongoing projects, other relevant work will be kicked-off in 2007, the highlights of which are the major investments in view for the Downstream area, such as the Abreu e Lima Refinery, in Northeastern Brazil, and the Petrochemical Complex in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
The following are Petrobras System’s main investment projects for the upcoming years – a few with partners –which are part of the Brazilian Growth Acceleration Program (GAP).

Gas Production Anticipation Plan (Plangás)

Seeking to raise the natural gas offer in Southeastern Brazil, the Plangás’ goal is to increase production by 24 million cubic meters a day by late 2008, and by 39 million cubic meters a day by the end of 2010, to 40 million cubic meters and 55 million cubic meters, respectively. With investments of R$25 billion in the period, the plan involves several projects and, among other benefits, will improve the national power system’s reliability by making natural gas available for thermal energy generation.


Gas pipeline construction and liquefied natural gas projects

The gas pipeline network Petrobras is either currently constructing or that it plans to build involves total investments of R$15 billion (R$12.5 billion through 2010) and deploying liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, which are budgeted at R$5 billion (R$2.9 billion through 2010). Learn more about the main projects below:

Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical Complex

The biggest individual project ever carried out by Petrobras, with total investments topping-out at R$21 billion (R$8.2 billion up to 2010) and undertaken in partnership with private partners, the Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical Complex (Comperj) will be capable of processing 150 thousand barrels of Brazilian heavy oil per day. The Complex will be formed by one Basic Petrochemical Product Production Unit (BPU) and by six second-generation petrochemical units.

The project includes the São Gonçalo Intelligence Center, a logistics base in São Gonçalo, and the oil supply pipeline. Construction is expected to start off in 4Q 2008 and operations are hoped to commence in 2012.

Comperj’s production will change the Brazilian petrochemical sector from the structural standpoint. The complex’s main products will include: Diesel fuel, ethane, propene, benzene, paraxylene and butadiene in the first generation, while polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, PTA, ethylene glycol and styrene in the second.

Abreu e Lima Refinery (Northeast)

Designed to process 200 thousand barrels of heavy oil per day, the refinery will be constructed in association with PDVSA, the Venezuelan national oil company, in the state of Pernambuco. Investments are foreseen for port infrastructure, water supply, for the construction of an effluent tabulation and a power transmission line, for oil and byproduct outflow pipelines, over and beyond investments in social projects in the region.


Earthwork will commence in July 2007, deployment is expected for the first half of 2008, and, finally, operation is hoped to go online in 2012. Total investments will involve some R$ 10 billion (R$5.6 billion through 2010). The Abreu e Lima Refinery will produce, in produced volume order, diesel fuel, coke, naphtha, LPG, and bunker. It will be aimed especially at supplying Northeastern state demand.

Other petrochemical projectswith private partners

Refining Park Enhancement and Modernization

The projects to enhance and modernize Petrobras’ refineries will broaden the processed load by 100,000 barrels per day and raise the processed Brazilian oil volume by 250,000 barrels per day (from 80% to 90% processed load).

The R$22.6 billion in investments (by 2010), involving work in all Petrobras refineries, also hope to improve fuel quality, rendering it “cleaner,” and to have an important socio-environmental effect. Improved diesel fuel quality will prevent emissions calculated at upwards of 86,000 tons of SO2 per year, contributing to quality of life in the cities.

Vessel construction and acquisition

Oil tanker fleet renewal foresees the construction, in Brazilian shipyards, of 42 units, with an initial order for 26 vessels, 15 of which will be delivered by 2010. Investments are expected to cap out at R$4.1 billion, with a high rate of nationalization. Also, two super oil tankers (VLCC) will be ordered before 2010.

Biofuels

Production – self-sufficiency maintenance

Seeking to maintain Brazil’s oil self-sufficiency, Petrobras has a portfolio that includes dozens of projects and will involve R$81 billion in investments in exploration and production through 2010. Learn more about the main projects below:


Exploration

Intensifying the exploratory activity (the search for new oil fields) is vital to ensure long-term self-sufficiency sustainability. The exploration activities undertaken through 2010 will have special impact on production after this period, allowing Brazil to maintain production above the country's byproduct demand.
Petrobras will invest R$15.5 billion in exploration through 2010. Including investments made by other companies (partners and third-parties), the resources to be invested in oil exploration in the PAC are estimated at R$23.5 billion through 2010.
The high investments in Brazil, in the coming yeas, will allow Petrobras to maintain the robust growth goals the company has taken-on for its several activities since 2003, with emphasis on the Country’s industrial development. Oil production will continue on the rise simply with the use of reserves that have already been discovered and with the deployment of the projects that have already been defined and are currently in motion.

Petrobras’ Goals for 2010

Actions Physical Goals in 2010
Oil – Exploration & production (Production in Brazil) 2,368,000 bpd of oil
   
Refining, Transportation and Petrochemicals:  
Refining Park Enhancement and Modernization (processed load) 1,877,000 bpd
Brazilian Oil Processing 1,708,000 barrels/day
Oil and Byproduct Transportation Enhancement & Modernization 42 vessels (15 delivered by 2010)
   
Natural Gas (production in Brazil) 88,000,000 m3 /day (39,000,000
m3/dia relative to Plangás
LNG 20 MMm3 /d
   
Renewable Fuels:  
Vegetable oil processing in refining (HBIO) 425,000 m3 /ano
Biodiesel Production 855,000 m3 /ano

http: //www.petrobras.com.br/ri/english


Contacts:
 
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A – PETROBRAS
Investor Relations Department
Raul Adalberto de Campos– Executive Manager
E-mail: petroinvest@petrobras.com.br
Av. República do Chile, 65 - 22nd floor
20031-912 – Rio de Janeiro, RJ
(55-21) 3224-1510 / 9947


This document may contain forecasts that merely reflect the expectations of the Company’s management. Such terms as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “forecast”, “intend”, “plan”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, along with similar or analogous expressions, are used to identify such forecasts. These predictions evidently involve risks and uncertainties, whether foreseen or not by the Company. Therefore, the future results of operations may differ from current expectations, and readers must not base their expectations exclusively on the information presented herein.


 

SIGNATURE
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: January 23, 2007

 
PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A--PETROBRAS
By:
/S/  Almir Guilherme Barbassa

 
Almir Guilherme Barbassa
Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer
 

 

 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates offuture economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually oc cur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.