Brazil has made a formal request to become a member country of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said the IEA on Tuesday, in a move which would reinforce Brazil’s importance in global energy markets.

The IEA said it had a received a letter at its Paris headquarters from Brazilian government ministers, requesting that Brazil be able to start the process of accession to the IEA.

Brazil, whose oil and gas production hit a record in July, is currently an association country member of the IEA, which has 32 countries with full membership status.

“Brazil is a cornerstone of the global energy system today and its importance is only set to increase in the years ahead. We look forward to discussing next steps with Brazil and our member governments,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol.
Source: Reuters