The secretary of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Renewable Fuels of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Márcio Félix says that since Law 9.478 / 1997, which broke Petrobras' monopoly in the area, foreigners were allowed in refining, but 20 years after more than 95% of the sector is still in the hands of Petrobras. For the manager, it is necessary to reshape the sector to take advantage of Brazil's potential - fifth largest oil derivatives market and far away from the production poles, which would make the country an attractive location for the implementation of new private refineries.

"Today we are in a different situation, in which Petrobras is seeking to achieve deleveraging targets, to have a better financial health. There is a refining deficit that has not happened for a long time and this deficit has to be met. We have to have clear, robust rules that will comfort investors. Be it state, private, investors will come, "says Felix.

In a press interview ahead of the event, the minister Fernando Bezerra Filho said that it is up to Petrobras to decide on the reduction of the participation in the refining market. "Who will decide whether to reduce the participation is Petrobras itself, Brazil today already has a need for oil refining. Petrobras has taken some divestment decisions, I do not know if it is the case of refining, but the fact is that Brazil is already the fifth largest producer of oil products in the world and the expectation is that this may increase with the growth of the economy. "

Abreu e Lima

The Abreu e Lima Refinery, considered by the government as one of the main growth potentials of the refining in this remodeling, now operates with part of its capacity, since the works were paralyzed. According to the minister, 40% of the S10 diesel consumed in the country is produced locally. Currently, the refinery is 100% state owned by Petrobras.

According to the director of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), Aurélio Amaral, in order to complete the refinery, the entrance of private investors is being studied. "In order to become more profitable and attract more investment, there is a need to attract partners, since Petrobras is going through a time of investment difficulties in order to complement production."

As stated by the executive director of Refining and Natural Gas of Petrobras, Jorge Celestino, the state company had already announced in its Business and Management Plan (PNG) from 2017 to 2021 a downstream company restructuring, which are activities related to distribution and refining of petroleum products. The goal is for the private sector partnership model in exploration and oil production to be expanded to refining. The way this will be done is still in definition.

Agência Brasil asked the director of Petrobras what the process of private investment in Abreu and Lima would look like and how much the state's participation in the refining market would be, but he did not want to talk to the press.

The government bets high on the refinery in this remodeling, says Secretary Márcio Félix. "Within the country, the place that has the greatest short-term perspective is Pernambuco. With the completion of the second module, which is already more than 80% ready, this refinery may become perhaps the largest in the country. But this asset belongs to Petrobras. And with the regulatory framework, the company can define in the coming months how it will be done. "

Public consultation

To reorganize the market, the government will listen to the sector in a workshop (seminar, discussion group) to be held in Rio de Janeiro on March 7 and 8, at the ANP headquarters. The proposals resulting from the meeting will be taken to public consultation, available on the website of the Ministry of Mines and Energy between March 20 and April 20.

A new workshop will be held on May 3 to approve the final report at the ministry's headquarters in Brasilia, and the project will be presented to the National Energy Policy Council on June 8, according to the planning presented today.

Market concentration

The fuel distribution market in Brazil is divided basically between four large corporations, including Petrobras - 28.6% is from BR Distribuidora, the state's branch in the logistics area. Ipiranga, with 20.6% of the total, and Raízen, with 19.3%, have the largest slices in the private sector. Ale holds 4.7% and another 100 distributors approximately account for 26.8% of the supply. The deconcentration of the sector was the subject of questions in the presentation. Márcio Félix said that these questions can be taken to the Rio de Janeiro workshop. "There will be no forbidden subject."

Ports Policy

Representatives of Brazilian ports and professionals linked to foreign investors in the area of petroleum-derived fuels have complained of port legislation regarding new investments to increase imports of fuel produced in other countries. Gilberto Temóteo, director of the Port of Cabedelo (PB), said that with the increase in the price of Petrobras' fuel, the import of this asset has been increasing, but the terminal does not meet demand with the current tanks.

"Resellers are looking for cheaper alternatives. They are wanting to buy foreign fuel, which is much cheaper. I've already started getting fuel from the United States, both gasoline and diesel. What we do not have is the area to build new tanks. I get at least two investors interested in new areas to receive foreign fuel every month, "he says.

Gilmara says that of the 80,000 cubic meters received to supply Paraíba per month, 10 thousand cubic meters are already outside the country. And the tendency is to grow, she says. "The area we have, what we can not do is bid because the legislation [Law 12.815 / 2013] does not allow because it is concentrated in Brasilia," he criticizes.

The Ministry of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation was invited to participate in the launch of the Brazilian Fuel Program but did not send representatives. The absence of the organ was felt by the participants. "It does not make sense to treat fuel without the presence of the ministry that manages the port sector," Gilmara said.