Brazil's Petrobras Revives Part of Comperj Project

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Petrobras (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has announced the strategic revival of part of its long-delayed Comperj project, now rebranded as the Boaventura Energy Complex, signaling a renewed focus on domestic lubricant production and cleaner fuels.

The original Comperj Project (Complexo Petroquimico do Rio de Janeiro) was launched with ambitious goals: the construction of a heavy oil refinery, a natural gas treatment train and a lubricants production unit. However, due to financial constraints, market volatility and internal political challenges, Petrobras was forced to suspend the refinery component.

In response, the company redefined the project scope, pivoting toward gas processing and lubricant production. The restructured initiative was renamed the Gaslub Itaborai Project, comprising two key components: a stand-alone natural gas processing plant (UPGN) designed to receive gas from Brazil's offshore pre-salt fields and a new Group II Lubricants Plant, aimed at reducing the country's dependency on imported medium- and high-quality lubricants. Consequently, the previously planned heavy oil refinery was officially canceled and removed from the project scope.

As part of a renewed strategic direction, Petrobras has now unveiled plans to partially resume the original refinery project under the Boaventura Energy Complex name. The revived initiative will feature several new refining units with a dual focus: strengthening domestic lubricant supply and expanding production of cleaner fuels such as Diesel S-10 and Aviation Kerosene (QAV-1). The updated scope includes the construction of key refining units: Catalytic Hydrocracking (HCC), Hydrotreatment (HDT), Hydroisomerization Dewaxing (HIDW) as well as supporting infrastructure, utilities, off-site systems and external pipelines.

In parallel, the stand-alone natural gas processing plant (UPGN) at the site, part of the earlier Gaslub Itaborai Project, has remained active and has been operational since March 2025.

To further enhance its fuel and lubricant portfolio, Petrobras plans to integrate operations between the Boaventura Complex and the REDUC Refinery. REDUC will be adapted to operate in synergy with Boaventura, particularly in the production of high-quality lubricants and environmentally friendly fuels.

This marks a significant milestone in Petrobras's long-term strategy to reduce import dependency and invest in sustainable energy infrastructure, while also restoring momentum to a project that had been sidelined for over a decade.

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