Works at the unit at Polo GasLub (formerly Comperj) have been paralyzed since 2015, when the petrochemical complex was targeted by Lava Jato
Petrobras launched this Thursday (May 2, 2024) a public bidding process to complete the works on a refinery at the GasLub Complex, named after the former Comperj (Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical Complex). The notice includes the construction of a plant to produce lubricants and the completion of a diesel and aviation kerosene production unit.
Work on the refinery in Itaboraí (RJ) has been at a standstill since 2015. During the Lava Jato operation, several cases of corruption at the enterprise were revealed, such as payment of bribes and overbilling. Since 2008, when works began, Petrobras has accumulated a loss of at least US$14 billion from the project.
The resumption and resizing of the project is part of Petrobras’ new Strategic Plan 2024-2028. After Lava Jato, the enterprise had been dehydrated. The idea of building a refinery was abandoned and the complex would only receive a pre-salt natural gas treatment unit.
Defended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and the current CEO of Petrobras, Jean Paul Prates, the project was reformulated and will once again rely on fuel production. A plant to manufacture lubricants was also included.
The GasLub Polo will also have a UPGN (Natural Gas Processing Unit), which is already under construction. The plant will treat the gas that will reach the complex via Route 3, the 3rd pre-salt pipeline, which has already had work resumed and should be ready by the end of 2024. The state-owned company is also considering building a thermal plant in the complex.
According to Petrobras, upon completion of the works, the set of units will have approximate capacity to produce:
- 12,000 barrels per day of lubricating oils;
- 75,000 barrels/day of S-10 diesel;
- 20,000 barrels/day of aviation kerosene (QAV-1), with a very low sulfur content.
The oil company did not disclose the deadline for completing the project or the final value of the project, which will depend on the result of the bidding process. The state-owned company’s estimate is that up to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created during the construction phase.
“The hiring is a milestone for the resumption of Polo GasLub and with it the company once again invests in a project of great importance not only for Petrobras, but for Rio de Janeiro and the whole of Brazil”said Prates.
