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Petrobras advances with an unprecedented technology to reduce toxic gas emissions, benefiting 30 million Brazilians.
A Petrobras is about to make history with a technology that promises to drastically reduce pollutant emissions and, at the same time, generate profit.
The project involves transforming toxic substances into sulfuric acid, a profitable product, at the Abreu e Lima Refinery, in Ipojuca (PE).
This innovative initiative, called Snox, places the state-owned company in a select global group, being the first unit in the Americas and the third in the world to use the technology.
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Petrobras' refinery in Pernambuco, Abreu e Lima (Rnest), is awaiting the start of operations of the Snox unit in December, a state-of-the-art structure designed to reduce the emission of toxic gases sulfur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx).
Through the refining process, these pollutants will be converted into sulfuric acid, which is widely used in industrial sectors, such as water treatment.
According to Agência Brasil, the new unit is capable of eliminate up to 99% of SOx emissions and 95% of NOx emissions, an achievement that should transform Rnest into a reference in sustainability and environmental efficiency.
According to Márcio Maia, general manager of the refinery, “the socio-environmental responsibility is enormous”, and the privileged location of the unit, close to the Port of Suape and Porto de Galinhas, reinforces Petrobras’ commitment to the environment and society.
Adding value and generating revenue
In addition to reducing pollution, Snox will open up new sources of revenue for Petrobras. All of the sulfuric acid generated by the unit already has a buyer: the Bauminas group, one of the national leaders in chemical products for water treatment.
This 10 year contract will enable water treatment for around 30 million Brazilians, highlights Maia, generating significant revenue for the refinery.
Rodrigo Avelino, another manager at the unit, believes that this technology “is state of the art” in gas treatment, something that few refineries in the world are able to achieve.
This technological advancement is exclusive to Rnest in Brazil, as older refineries, built before the 80s, were not designed for technologies of this type.
Increasing production with less impact
The modernization of Abreu e Lima will also contribute to expanding refining capacity.
With more efficient emissions control, the refinery will be able to increase its production from 100 to 115 barrels of oil per day, a possibility now permitted by environmental legislation.
With this, Petrobras hopes expand the supply of S-10 diesel, a low-sulfur fuel, essential to reduce emissions and meet the growing demand of the Brazilian market.
Currently, the Pernambuco refinery is responsible for 10% of the S-10 diesel consumed in the country, enough to supply millions of vehicles, both light and heavy.
S-10 diesel has high energy efficiency and reduces environmental impacts, compared to S-500 diesel, widely used until recently in Brazil.
Resumption of investments and job creation
The Snox project is not new. The installation is part of the refinery's initial plan, but delays related to the Lava Jato operation and investment crises have postponed completion.
After a repositioning by Petrobras, the works were resumed, and the refinery, which had been placed in divestment, received new investments, marking a turnaround.
The construction of Snox generated 1,3 direct jobs and, as operations progress, more vacancies should arise.
It is estimated that Train 2, Abreu e Lima's new production line, will generate around 30 thousand direct and indirect jobs throughout its construction, scheduled for completion in 2028.
This train will represent a significant increase in the refinery's production capacity, positively impacting the local economy and job market.
Revamp and modernization of the refinery
Another important step in the development of Abreu e Lima is the so-called “revamp”, a process of renewing and expanding equipment, scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2025.
According to Bruno Daguano, coordinator of Refinery projects, this modernization will allow increasing the refining capacity to 130 thousand barrels of oil per day, at a significantly lower cost than building a new facility from scratch.
According to Daguano, “the revamp is one of Petrobras’ most profitable projects”, and Márcio Maia highlights that this expansion will allow the maximization of the use of pre-salt oil, further improving the refinery’s efficiency and profits.
Contribution to the reduction of imports
With the expansion of capacity, Abreu e Lima will be able to refine up to 260 thousand barrels per day, which should reduce Brazil's dependence on diesel imports.
According to Maia, the refinery has the potential to supply the entire Northeast Region, in addition to sending surpluses to other parts of the country.
Less dependence on imported diesel represents not only an economic advantage for the country, but also a positive impact on the trade balance.
Investments in renewable energy
Although focused on fossil fuels, Petrobras has invested in renewable energy at Abreu e Lima, which will house a photovoltaic plant with the capacity to produce up to 12 megawatts, approximately 7% of the energy consumed by the refinery.
Another project under development is renewable diesel, which should include plant-based content, with the potential to create more sustainable products with less environmental impact.
Cutting-edge technology and opportunities for the future
Petrobras seeks to leverage technologies like Snox not only to increase profitability, but to ensure a prominent role in the environmental scenario.
Investment in cutting-edge processes, such as revamp, demonstrates the state-owned company's commitment to aligning its growth with global environmental demands.
With this, Abreu e Lima is becoming a reference in innovation and sustainability.
Will this technology spread to other refineries in Brazil in the future, increasing the production of cleaner fuels and creating jobs?
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