Petrobras CEO cancels trip to Houston over flu fears

01 May 2009 16:11  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The chief executive of Brazilian petrochemicals producer Petrobras will not travel to Houston to pick up a business award on Monday due to flu concerns, the company and the Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce said on Friday.

Jose Sergio Gabrielli was scheduled to attend a Monday breakfast in Houston hosted by Energy Magazine, which named Brazil as “country of the year” due to its industry opportunities offered through energy, trade and jobs.

Most of the other Petrobras delegation members have cancelled the trip over flu fears as well, the Chamber of Commerce said.

Orlando Azevedo, president of Petrobras USA, will instead accept the award, the company said.

The first US swine flu death was reported on Wednesday in Houston, the hub for much of the nation’s petrochemical production and trade.

A number of Brazilian ministers and energy executives were invited to attend the event. It was unclear whether other companies will also cancel their trips.

Calls to Energy Magazine were not immediately returned.

(Additional reporting by William Lemos)

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