Petrobras is said to be considering eventually pursuing an initial public offering for its fuel distribution unit.
The move comes as the company revealed it was selling a majority voting stake to investors, a senior executive said.
Petrobras expects bidders to hand proposals for control of BR Distribuidora, as the unit is known, by the end of the year, said Anelise Quintão Lara, head of mergers and acquisitions at the Rio de Janeiro-based company.