July 18, 2022 [bnamericas] – Brazil’s Petrobras has issued a request for information (RFI) to gauge market conditions as it looks to boost the production capacity of its first refining train at the Abreu e Lima (Rnest) refinery, a source familiar with the matter told BNamericas.

Brazil’s Petrobras has issued a request for information (RFI) to gauge market conditions as it looks to boost the production capacity of its first refining train at the Abreu e Lima (Rnest) refinery, a source familiar with the matter told BNamericas.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said that the national oil company is reconsidering the construction of the second Rnest refining train. Petrobras declined to comment on the issue when contacted by BNamericas.

Included in the company’s 2022-26 business plan, the investment was seen as a strategic move to attract potential buyers for the refinery, after it failed to sell the plant in a first divestment attempt.

Located in Pernambuco state, Rnest began operations in 2014 with a capacity to process 130,000b/d.

Among the Brazilian refineries, the plant has the highest conversion rate of crude oil into diesel (70%), an essential fuel for the country’s economy.

Last month Petrobras started a programmed maintenance stoppage at Rnest that will last until August.

On Friday, the company extended the expression of interest deadlines for the sales of Rnest, as well as the Presidente Getúlio Vargas (Repar) and the Alberto Pasqualini (Refap) refineries, in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul states, respectively.

Potential bidders now have until July 29 to confirm their participation and must sign a confidentiality agreement by August 12

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