Exhibit 5.1

December 12, 2011

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. — Petrobras

Avenida República do Chile, 65

20031-912 Rio de Janeiro — RJ

Brazil

Petrobras International Finance Company

Harbour Place

103 South Church Street, 4th Floor

P.O. Box 1034GT-BWI

George Town, Grand Cayman

Cayman Islands

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the General Counsel of Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. — Petrobras (“Petrobras”), a sociedade de economia mista organized under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil (“Brazil”). This opinion is being furnished to you in connection with the Guaranty dated as of December 12, 2011 (the “Guaranty”), by and among Petrobras, as the Guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the “Trustee”) under the Indenture (the “Original Indenture”) dated as of December 15, 2006, by and between Petrobras’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Petrobras International Finance Company (“PifCo”), and the Trustee. The Guaranty relates to the £700,000,000 6.250% Global Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”) to be issued by PifCo under the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 12, 2011, by and among PifCo, the Trustee, Petrobras, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as principal paying agent (the “Principal Paying Agent”) and The Bank of New York Mellon (Luxembourg) S.A., as Luxembourg paying agent (the “Luxembourg Paying Agent”) (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture”, and the Original Indenture, as supplemented by the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”, and together with the Guarantee, the “Transaction Documents”).

For the purpose of rendering this opinion, I have examined the execution copies or copies certified to my satisfaction of the following documents:

(i) the Original Indenture;

(ii) a form of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture;

(iii) a form of the Guaranty;

(iv) the Estatuto Social of Petrobras;

(v) resolutions of the board of directors and board of executive officers of Petrobras authorizing the signing of each Transaction Document to which Petrobras is a party;

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(vi) a Secretary’s Certificate of Petrobras;

(vii) an Officer’s Certificate of Petrobras; and

(viii) such other documents, records and matters of law as I have deemed necessary;

In rendering the foregoing opinions, I have assumed the authenticity of all documents represented to me to be originals, the conformity to original documents of all copies of documents submitted to me, the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records made available to me and the genuineness of all signatures that purport to have been made in a corporate, governmental, fiduciary or other capacity, and that the persons who affixed such signatures had authority to do so.

Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and limitations hereinafter specified, I am of the opinion that:

(i) Petrobras has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation (sociedade de economia mista) under the laws of Brazil.

(ii) Petrobras has all power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Guaranty.

(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Guaranty have been duly authorized by the board of executive officers of Petrobras.

I express no opinion as to any matter which may be, or which purports to be, governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of Brazil.

This opinion is limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.

I hereby consent to the use of my name in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement, and in any prospectus supplements related thereto, under the heading “Legal Matters” as counsel who has passed on certain matters of Brazilian law relating to the Notes, the Indenture and the Guaranty, and to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Nilton Antonio de Almeida Maia                    

Nilton Antonio de Almeida Maia

General Counsel of Petróleo

Brasileiro S.A. — Petrobras

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