Portuguese 
Spanish 
Sustainable Transformation in Rio Grande do Sul Marks the Beginning of a New Era of Renewable Fuels in Brazil
The Petrobras, in partnership with Braskem and Grupo Ultra, announced the conversion of the Refinaria Riograndense into a biorrefinery, with an investment of R$5.5 billion. Petrobras’s president, Magda Chambriard, emphasized that the unit, located in Rio Grande do Sul, will be a pioneer in Brazil by operating without using “any drop of oil.”
Sustainable and Renewable Production
The new biorrefinery will produce fuels exclusively from vegetable oils, as announced by Chambriard at an event at the shipyard in Rio Grande.
Petrobras has already conducted successful tests using 100% soybean oil at the refinery, and the goal is to fully convert the unit to produce aviation fuel and 100% renewable diesel in the coming years.
-
Petrobras Secures $2.2 Billion Contract to Build and Operate Four Support Vessels for Brazil’s Offshore Oil Fields
-
Oil production grows in Rio, but reserve replacement raises a warning sign
-
Petrobras is expected to complete the drilling of the Morpho well in the Foz do Amazonas in August 2026, the first well in the Equatorial Margin, an oil frontier that the ANP estimates at more than 30 billion barrels and could redraw the map of Brazil.
-
Oil returns to the center of concerns with tension between the US and Iran
Job Creation and Capacity Expansion
Investments in the biorrefinery will allow for the creation of 4,000 direct jobs, strengthening the local economy.
In the short term, Petrobras plans to increase the production of co-processed diesel, containing 5% vegetable oil, and conduct tests to produce aviation fuel with renewable content later this year.
Expansion and Exploration Potential
The refinery will receive three new units with the capacity to produce 44,000 barrels per year of aviation fuels and diesel from renewable raw materials.
Chambriard also highlighted the potential of the Pelotas Basin, where Petrobras has 29 exploratory blocks, comparing it to the geological reserves of Namibia, in Africa.
Advances in Oil Production with Petrobras
During the event, attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Petrobras’s CEO mentioned that the Búzios field, in the Santos Basin, has reached a mark of 800,000 barrels per day, approaching the Tupi field, which is in decline.
As a tribute, it was announced that the Tupi field will revert to its previous name, Lula.
This initiative represents a significant milestone for Petrobras and reinforces the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, highlighting Brazil as a leader in the production of renewable fuels.
SOURCE: ISTOEDINHEIRO
