Brazil opens new gas complex to boost domestic supplies by around 50%

Officially opened on Friday in Rio de Janeiro state, Petrobras' Boaventura energy complex – formerly Gaslub and previously Comperj – will make it possible to transport up to 18Mm3/d (million cubic meters a day) and process up to 21Mm3/d of natural gas.

Originating from pre-salt offshore fields, the gas will arrive via the Rota 3 pipeline and will be processed at what is now Brazil's largest gas processing unit.

By comparison, Brazil’s gas supply in April was 40.8Mm3/d, according to the most recent data from the federal government, so Rota 3 will be able to increase the availability of gas by approximately 50%. 

Brazil’s total natural gas production stands at about 140Mm3/d but most of it is reinjected to recover more oil from offshore fields. 

Today, at least two other offshore projects are planned to add significant gas volumes: Petrobras' Sergipe deepwater (SEAP, with 18Mm3/d) and Equinor’s Raia (formerly Pão de Açúcar/ 16Mm3/d). 

THERMAL POWER AND REFINING

In addition to the gas pipeline and processing unit, the federal oil company is working on other projects at the Boaventura complex, including two gas-fired power plants to take part in planned auctions and refining units to produce fuels and lubricants. 

Building a dedicated biofuel plant is also being studied, which would produce 100% renewable diesel and aviation kerosene. Another important front for the complex will be carbon capture, connecting it to the CCUS hub pilot project in Rio de Janeiro.

“The Boaventura energy complex is an important step by Petrobras towards its mission of expanding the supply of gas to the domestic market and minimizing our imports of LPG and diesel,” said Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard during the opening ceremony.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressed during the event that he wants to transform Petrobras into the largest energy company in Latin America. 

“That's a dream, and I like to dream. Because the day oil runs out, Petrobras will be the biggest biofuel producer, the biggest ethanol producer in this country, the biggest green hydrogen producer in this country. Petrobras is more than an oil industry, it is an energy industry and it will produce whatever is necessary,” he said.

INVESTMENTS

Petrobras plans to invest approximately 20bn reais (US$3.6bn) in the refining sector in Rio de Janeiro state over the next few years. 

At the Boaventura energy complex, 13bn reais will be invested in plants to produce lubricants, diesel and aviation kerosene. Another 7bn reais will be invested in improvements at the Duque de Caxias refinery (Reduc). 

Once the work on the entire Boaventura complex has been completed, the complex will have capacity to produce around 12,000b/d of group II lubricating oils, 75,000b/d of S-10 diesel and 20,000b/d of aviation kerosene, Petrobras said in a release.