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Petrobras Reactivates Plant With An Investment of R$ 870 Million Despite a History of Losses. Experts Question the Viability of the Operation That Generated More Profit While It Was Closed. Is This a Political Movement or a Smart Economic Decision?
Petrobras Makes a Heavy Investment and Reactivates the Plant Araucária Nitrogenados (Ansa), which, ironically, generated more profit while it was closed.
The decision, which includes an investment of R$ 870 million, raises doubts about the viability of the operation. Is this reopening really necessary or just a shot in the foot?
On Thursday (15), Petrobras officially announced the resumption of production at the Araucária Nitrogenados (Ansa) fertilizer plant in Araucária, Paraná.
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The ceremony, attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Petrobras President Magda Chambriard, celebrated the return of a unit that had been dormant since 2020, following several unsuccessful attempts at sale.
Economic Viability Is Questioned
However, the reactivation of this plant, which was the cause of billion-dollar losses in the past, raises suspicion.
According to Petrobras’ 2019 financial report, the continuation of Ansa was not economically viable due to the characteristics of the market it operates in and projections of negative results. For many, the question lingers: why invest in an operation that has already proven to be deficient?
Studies Indicate Viability, but Experts Disagree
According to a statement released by Petrobras, the decision to resume activities was preceded by studies that confirmed the technical and economic viability of the project.
However, this assessment does not convince all industry experts. According to a source quoted by journalist Isadora Camargo, the plant is considered “extremely inefficient,” which calls into question the optimism around the billion-dollar investment.
Ansa’s History of Ups and Downs
The history of Ansa is marked by ups and downs. Founded in 1982 and privatized in 1993, the plant was transferred to Vale Fertilizantes, which was later acquired by Mosaic. In 2012, under the government of Dilma Rousseff, Petrobras repurchased the unit, but profitability continued to be an issue. Since then, Ansa has only been profitable in 2015, 2021, and 2022 — interestingly, in the last two years, the plant was closed.
Losses and Operational Performance Raise Concerns
The accumulated losses by Ansa over the years are alarming. At the end of 2023, the deficits totaled R$ 2.24 billion, according to data collected by Valor Pro. This scenario raises even more questions about the return of operations.
The problem is not limited to net losses, but extends to operational performance. In eight years as a subsidiary of Petrobras, Ansa’s revenue did not cover operating costs in seven of those years. In 2019, for example, sales revenue was R$ 606 million, while operating costs reached R$ 832 million.
Investment or Political Move?
The question in the air is: what has changed in the market to justify this reopening? If there is no radical change in market conditions, it is possible that the billion-dollar investment is more of a political movement than a decision based on economic viability.
According to journalist Nelson Niero from Valor Econômico, the reactivation of Ansa can be seen as an attempt to boost the local economy and generate jobs. However, it remains to be seen whether this strategy will not result in more losses for the state-owned company, which already carries a history of deficit operations at this plant.
What Does the Future Hold for Ansa?
The decision to reactivate Ansa divides opinions, and the lingering question is: will this reopening truly bring economic benefits, or are we facing yet another social investment that burdens Petrobras? The next chapters of this story promise to bring more clarity, but doubts remain.
Que matéria mequetrefe, é de uma pequenez de entendimento macroeconômico sem tamanho, deve ter escrito via GPT.
Lula não é só um ótimo governo, é também um visionário resolvedor de problemas, se o principal fornecedor de insumos está em guerra, diante das incertezas do mercado, melhor mesmo é garantir o fornecimento para o agro não parar por falta desses insumos. Se vai dar lucro? Não interessa, os americanos subsidiam a agricultura há anos, isso é o verdadeiro patriota. Vida longa ao presidente Lula.
O que falta pro impeachment desse energúmeno, que roubou a Petrobrás até o talo e continua fazendo **** na empresa?
Se o custo de produção for menor que o custo de importação vale a pena reativar a fábrica, inclusive diminuirá ou acabar com nossa dependência com os fornecedores externos.
Acrescentar também a abertura de vários postos de trabalho.