Since Saturday (July 29), Petrobras has two units capable of producing 100% S-10 diesel at the Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc), in Rio de Janeiro. With this, the refinery almost doubles the potential supply of this fuel, from 5 million liters per day to 9.5 million liters per day.

The beginning of the execution stage of the works took place in March 2020 and indicated the start-up of the unit in September 2023. However, even with the difficulties arising from the pandemic, the unit went into production ahead of schedule. The unit started up after the end of a scheduled maintenance shutdown, allowing the company to complete the necessary adjustments to qualify it to produce fuel with a low sulfur content (only 10 ppm), aiming to meet the specifications of the local and international market, in addition to environmental requirements. Interventions carried out at Reduc's hydrotreatment unit met all requirements regarding the safety and health of people and the environment, and were planned in such a way as not to impact the service to the market during their execution.

S-10 diesel is a more modern and sustainable product, with greater added value and with less impact on the environment. In addition to the low sulfur content, this fuel has a higher cetane level, an index that measures the quality of ignition. S-10 also provides positive impacts in reducing the emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.

According to Carlos Travassos, Petrobras’ Director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation, “Petrobras is investing in projects and products that generate environmental gains for society as a whole. The expansion of S-10 diesel production at Reduc represents the achievement of an important milestone and reaffirms the company's commitment to serving the market and respecting the environment.”

According to William França, Petrobras’ Director of Industrial Processes and Products, the modernization of the refining complex and the expansion of the S-10 diesel production capacity is vital to increase the availability of more sustainable derivatives: “The replacement of S-500 diesel production with S-10 is of strategic importance for the company, in addition to being positive for the country, as it expands the offer of a less polluting derivative with low environmental impact to serve the Brazilian market.”

With an investment of almost BRL 225 million, this is the first completed project under the so-called phase out of S-500 diesel, which will adapt all of Petrobras’ road diesel production to the S-10.

In addition to Reduc, adaptations are also planned for existing units at the Revap and Rnest refineries (1st train); construction of new hydrotreatment units at Replan and Rnest (2nd train); and studies of new units at Repar, Regap, Refap and Revap, which will have the potential to add 300,000 barrels per day to the production of S-10 diesel in Brazil by 2028.