The Abreu e Lima Refinery (RNEST), located in Ipojuca, Pernambuco, ended 2024 with another record. The production of bunker fuel (used to supply ships, especially large ones such as oil tankers and container ships) reached 410,000 tons. This figure is more than double the previous record of 201,000 tons set in 2023.

RNEST's General Manager, Márcio Maia, explains that the product has significant demand in both domestic and international markets, and this increase in production allows for the capture of new markets and, consequently, an increase in revenue. “The forecast is to maintain a similar production level in the coming years. We are working to continuously improve our performance,” he states.

According to the refinery’s general manager, “RNEST plays a strategic role in fueling ships and has a very strong competitive advantage because it is connected via pipeline to the Port of Suape, which also gives us agility in distributing the production,” highlights Márcio Maia.

FUT

Across the Petrobras system, the volume of oil processed from the pre-salt fields also reached a historic level, accounting for 70% of the total processed by Petrobras, surpassing the figure from 2023, when the annual average was 66%.

The Refinery Utilization Factor (FUT) reached 93.2% in 2024, compared to 92% in 2023. The FUT calculation considers the volume of crude oil processed and the refineries' reference capacity, within the assets’ design limits, as well as safety, environmental, and quality requirements for the produced derivatives.

The reliability and availability of the refining plants were crucial for the performance, with an indication of higher utilization of the refineries due to the integrated planning of Petrobras' Refining, Transportation, Marketing, Petrochemicals, and Fertilizers (RTC) segment.

Lower Emissions

In 2024, Petrobras' refining park achieved the lowest intensity of greenhouse gas emissions in its historical series, which began in 2019. The company recorded 36.1 kgCO2 per equivalent load, avoiding the burning of 475,000 m³/day of natural gas and the emission of 365,000 tons of CO2. This volume is equivalent to removing more than 6,000 diesel-powered city buses or more than 60,000 gasoline-powered cars from circulation.

More Investment in Refining

Petrobras' current Business Plan foresees US$ 19.6 billion in investments in the Refining, Transportation, Marketing, Petrochemicals, and Fertilizers (RTC) segment by 2029, a 17% increase compared to the previous plan.

“We are enhancing the refining park, investing in modernization, and increasing production capacity. Petrobras is focused on efficiency, safety, and the profitable operation of its assets. The investments we make in refining are essential for the global performance of the refineries,” says William França, Petrobras' Director of Industrial Processes and Products.