Regarding electricity, Brazil’s largest problem is her energy champion – Petrobras. As a company, Petrobras is reticent to allow private energy companies invest in Brazil’s natural gas development because all the pipelines that carry natural gas from Bolivia and from smaller Brazilian-based sources are owned by Petrobras. This company does not want private, smaller companies taking advantage of what is considered state-owned infrastructure. Yet to maintain a monopoly on this infrastructure is placing short-sighted profiteering motive ahead of the country’s future energy needs. Plans to dam a number of rivers in southern Brazil have been put on hold. And as we’ve seen, Bolivia cannot be trusted.

Something has to give, and the first signs of Petrobras’ victory or capitulation will be seen in Brasilia, where politicians continue to debate over a bill that would force Petrobras to open its gas pipeline infrastructure to private use…

Meanwhile, only six of 100 Brazilian senators have not been accused of corruption. The Pan American games has given all here an excuse to talk about something else, and the current crisis with aviation security overshadows all other political concerns…