Rio de Janeiro, January 23 2009 - PETR�LEO BRASILEIRO S/A - PETROBRAS, [Bovespa: PETR3/PETR4, NYSE: PBR/PBRA, Latibex: XPBR/XPBRA, BCBA: APBR/APBRA], a Brazilian international energy company, announces that its Board of Directors has approved today the Business Plan for 2009-2013 period.

This Business Plan is based on the fundamental strategies of the Strategic Plan 2020.  The Plan has been revised and up-dated to take into account the changes in the international macroeconomic scenario and its impacts on oil and oil products market.

The Plan did not incorporate potential cost reductions as a consequence of the d rop in the international oil price although the Company recognizes that the decline in oil should create the opportunity for cost reductions and will make its best efforts to lower the cost of its investments.

Maintaining its commitment to sustainable development, the Company intends to continue expanding its activities in target markets for oil, oil products, petrochemicals, gas and energy, biofuels and distribution, being a benchmark to the integrated oil industry. 

The Company's Vision to become one of the five largest integrated energy companies in the world has been maintained, based on  the pillars of profitability , social and environmental responsibility, and integrated growth.

The Business Plan 2009-2013 retains the aggressive growth targets for Petrobras and incorporates the investment required for the exploration and development of the oil discoveries in the pre-salt area.

The Business Plan 2009-2013 has established the following oil production targets in Brazil: 2,680 thousand barrels of oil per day (bpd) in 2013, 3,340 thousand bpd in 2015 and 3,920 thousand bpd in 2020.

In addition to the Tupi Pilot System, to begin production in 2010, three systems are scheduled to go into production in the pre-salt layer of the Santos Basin during the period 2009-2013: Tupi 1 and Guar� 1 in 2012 and Iara 1 in 2013. The 2015 target in the 2008-12 Business Plan of 2,812 thousand bpd has been increased by 528 thousand bpd as a result of these additional production projects.

Including natural gas production, domestic output will reach 3,310 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in 2013, 4,140 thousand boed in 2015 (685 thousand boed more than for the 2008-12 Business Plan) and 5,100 thousand boed in 2020.

In refining, the target for domestically feedstock in 2013 is forecast to reach 2,270 thousand bpd,. We reiterate our strategy of increasing refining capacity both in Brazil and overseas to  follow  Petrobras' production growth and to meet the levels of product quality  demanded by the market.  In this context, Refinaria Abreu Lima (Pernambuco) is expected to start up in 2011, the COMPERJ in 2012 and the Refinaries Premium I and 2 in 2013 and 2014, respectively.   

Targets for the international business also reflect the Company's integrated growth and the production of oil and gas is projected to reach 341 thousand boed in 2013.

The projected combined output of oil and gas in Brazil and overseas for 2013 is 3,651 thousand boed.

The plan, which for the first time includes investments in the pre-salt area in Santos Basin, envisages total investments of US$ 174.4 billion in 2013, . This represents an annual average of US$ 34.9 billion, 90% of which (US$ 157.3 billion) in Brazil and 10% (US$ 16.8 billion) abroad and 55% more than the previous Plan.

In comparison with the Business Plan 2008-12, the most significant increase was in Exploration and Production, with a growth of 71% in investments equivalent to US$ 92 billion, or 53% of the US$ 174.4 billion for the 2009-13 period. The Downstream segment, with a 27% share of the investment planned, has also seen investments increased to US$ 46.9 billion, or a 46% rise in relation to the preceding plan. It also should be highlighted the 139% increase of investments in Gas and Energy, albeit representing only 6% of the total. In the International segment, investments are to continue to be concentrated in Exploration and Production with a focus on Latin America, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. A total of US$ 2.4 billion will be invested in the biofuels segment through the new Petrobras Biocombust�vel subsidiary.

 The addition to total projected capital costs is composed of: US$ 47.9 billion for new projects, US$ 17 billion due to increase in costs and US$ 2.9 billion due to changes in foreign exchange rate assumptions.  The remaining amount is due to other factors such as changes in projects scope, engineering design, etc.

Exploration and Production accounts for 76.4% of the total US$ 47.9 billion allocated to new projects or equivalent to US$ 36.6 billion. For the first time, the Company is dedicating significant efforts in evaluating, developing and production of discoveries in the so-called pre-salt layer of the Santos and Esp�rito Santos basins. Of the new projects in the E&P segment, about US$ 28 billion relate to pre-salt development.

The plan's revision has incorporated the new world economic and financial scenario including its effects on oil prices, among other variables.  Price fluctuations of the commodity impact short-term revenue and increase funding needs for 2009 and 2010.  With the market consensus expecting significantly higher oil prices for 2009-2013 period is significantly than the current oil price, the plan is expected over time to be largely self funding.

Despite the current financial crises potential impacts in the short term oil demand, in the long term, the supply of oil is still expected to be lower than the demand due to depletion in the existing production fields. Petrobras uses the average Brent price assumption of US$ 42 per barrel for its analysis of financiability, leverage targets and rates of return. The Plan also contemplates the analysis of the world production growth, exchange rate and oil and oil products price assumptions.
 
The target for average financial leverage of 25-35% is maintained and Petrobras will continue to seek financing from various sources in Brazil and overseas, be it in the capital and banking markets, or through securitization, development agencies, etc.

The 2009 estimated investments of US$ 28.6 billion and the average Brent price assumption of US$ 37 for the cash flow generation, results in a funding needs of US$ 18.1 billion, which US$ 11.9 billion is already committed with BNDES and US$ 5.0 billion with other sources.

Sincerely,

Investor Relations Department