Snapshot: Brazil’s oil refining projects

Brazil has five refining projects being analyzed by oil and gas watchdog ANP. 

Together, they would add processing capacity of around 250,000b/d, equivalent to about 10% of Brazil’s current refining capacity of 2.43Mb/d. 

The main project comprises the expansion of Petrobras’ Abreu e Lima (RNEST) refinery in Ipojuca, Pernambuco state, involving an additional 130,000b/d of capacity and with the potential to produce around 13Ml/d of S-10 (low-sulfur) diesel.

The state-run firm is currently tendering the contracting for the works. 

In Fortaleza, capital of Ceará state, Noxis Energy’s Refinaria de Petróleo de Pecém involves the construction of a refinery capable of processing 100,000b/d. 

The project envisages production capacity of 60,000b/d of fuel oil, 25,000b/d of S-10 diesel, 10,000b/d of gasoline and 5,000b/d of liquefied petroleum gas. 

Noxis also had plans to install 100,000b/d plants in Sergipe and Bahia but these undertakings do not figure on ANP’s list. 

In Camaçari, Bahia, Dax Oil Refino is working to add 15,695b/d of processing capacity to its existing plant. 

Also in Bahia, in the municipality of Simões Filho, Brasil Refinarias intends to build a 736b/d plant. 

Meanwhile, in São Paulo, Votopetro plans to build a 4,000b/d plant. 

BNamericas contacted Noxis, Dax, Votopetro and Brasil Refinarias to learn about the status of their projects but the companies did not respond. 

OTHER INITIATIVES

In Bahia, Acelen is investing in the modernization of the Mataripe refinery.

Among the initiatives carried out by the Mubadala Capital subsidiary is the expansion of the plant's digital transformation programs, focused on loss prevention and operational continuity, and projects to increase its energy efficiency. 

At the end of 2023, Acelen submitted to Petrobras a proposal to form a strategic partnership to develop the refining and biorefining sector, with possible investment by the state-run oil giant in the Mataripe plant. 

The proposal also envisaged a greenfield project to develop a fully integrated biorefinery in Bahia and another in Minas Gerais state, focused on the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel from crops native to Brazil.

Petrobras’ 2024-28+ strategic plan calls for US$17bn capex in refining. Among the company’s goals are increasing its processing capacity by 225,000b/d, the production of S-10 diesel by 290,000b/d and biorefining by 12,000b/d. 

The company has plans to build several refining units at its Energias Boaventura complex (formerly Gaslub hub), in Rio de Janeiro state. 

They will have capacity to produce 12,000b/d of group II lubricating oils, 75,000b/d of S-10 diesel and 20,000b/d of aviation kerosene (QAV-1). The plant will operate in synergy with the Duque de Caxias refinery (Reduc).