April 4 (Reuters) -

The exit of Petrobras Chief Executive Jean Paul

Prates from the state-run company is "imminent," CNN Brasil

reported on Thursday, citing three unnamed sources.

The CEO of Brazil's state development bank BNDES,

Aloizio Mercadante, is being considered for the role, the

broadcaster reported. The report comes after newspaper Folha de

Sao Paulo said Prates was seeking a meeting with President Luiz

Inacio Lula da Silva to ask for support to stay in the role.

Petrobras shares reversed gains to fall around 1% after

the CNN Brasil report.

Petrobras did not immediately respond to requests for

comment. Lula's press office said in a statement that it was not

aware of any scheduled meeting.

CEO Jean Paul Prates has come under fire from some members

of Lula's cabinet, including Mines and Energy Minister Alexandre

Silveira, and wants a "definitive meeting" with Lula about the

situation, the newspaper reported.

Leaving Petrobras is among the outcomes mulled by Prates if

he fails to get a strong show of support from Lula, according to

the report, which did not say how it obtained the information.