Refining: technology that creates several solutions with a single raw material
Turning crude oil into essential products for your everyday life: that's what we do in refining.
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Energia que move
The energy that moves society is born in refining
Refining plays a very important role in your life; do you know why? Because it is in oil refineries, in these true transformation industries, that we produce diesel, gasoline, aviation kerosene, cooking gas and many other products that you use every day.
Byproducts obtained from oil refining, in turn, can also be used as raw material for the petrochemical industry to create countless other products. Just look around you, the results of this are everywhere:
- PET bottles and various types of packaging.
- Medication.
- Carpets, fabrics and furniture.
- Car parts.
- Glasses and contact lenses.
- Tires.
- Fertilizers for agriculture.
And this is just a small portion of what is generated by refining. The truth is that the whole world is driven by this process, and we are changing the way it is done. We are developing new products towards a low carbon market. And for this reason, refining is fundamental for energy transition.
We make heavy investments to meet the needs of Brazilian
To guarantee production for a demand that is always growing, we have defined strategies that will guide our activities in the coming years (2025-2029):
- Be the best option for customers.
- Offer high quality and low carbon products, with a focus on the customer.
- Optimize the production chain by maximizing the value of assets.
- Expand and adapt the refining system.
Investimos pesado
Investment forecast for refining.
Previsão de investimento em refino
Investment forecast for refining - 2024-2028+
US$ billion
Aumento do Processamento e Conversão
(+154 mbpd)
(+154 mbpd)
- Novas unidades na REPLAN, RNEST (2º Trem) e GASLUB
- Adaptações na REDUC, REVAP, REGAP e RNEST (1º Trem)
- Estudo de novas unidades na REPAR e REFAP
Programa REFTOP
(IGEE de 30kg CO₂e/CWT em 2030)
(IGEE de 30kg CO₂e/CWT em 2030)
- GASLUB (HIDW) - Lubrificantes Grupo II
- RPBC (Planta Dedicada) - BioQAV e Diesel Renovável
- Estudo de segunda Planta Dedicada
Produção de Não Carburantes e Renováveis
(+27) mbpd
(+27) mbpd
- Novas unidades na RNEST (2º Trem e SNOX)
- Adaptações na RNEST (1º Trem e Coque) e REPLAN (Coque)
Aumento de Produção de Diesel S-10
(+318) mbpd
(+318) mbpd
- US$ 813 milhões em 148 projetos (100 de eficiência energética)
- Maior disponibilidade operacional, menor intensidade energética e menor emissão
Futuro do refino
The future of refining is less sulfur and more bio
We are treading a path towards a low carbon market that enables a fair energy transition for all Brazilians. Faced with this transformation scenario, we seek to enable the use of renewable raw materials in the development of new sustainable products.
We are producing a new generation of fuels that will be more modern and sustainable, such as diesel with renewable content (Diesel R) and aviation biokerosene (BIOQAV). These two fuels can be produced from a mixture of oil and vegetable oil, for example. Thus, we are positioning ourselves among the world leaders in biorefining, efficiency and operational performance.
These and other initiatives are part of our BioRefining Program. Find out more about it below and discover this new generation of fuels in our section on Energy in Transformation.
These and other initiatives are part of our BioRefining Program. Find out more about it below and discover this new generation of fuels in our section on Energy in Transformation.
BioRefining Program: technological leadership transformed into commercial reality
The program integrates projects to produce a new generation of fuels that are more modern and sustainable. Check out what is new:
- Use on the runway of CAP Pro, a new asphalt developed by Petrobras, which enables a 65% reduction in estimated greenhouse gas emissions.
- We were one of the first companies to meet the criteria established by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). In 2023, we made the first supply of a fleet ship with a biobunker, which has a lower carbon footprint.
- In 2023, we will introduce the new Premium Petrobras gasoline, with high performance and 40% less sulfur.
- In our Strategic Plan 2050 and Business Plan 2025-2029, we are committed to diversify strategies for biofuels production, among them, the Diesel R (low-carbon automotive fuel) and BioQAV (aviation biokerosene).
RefTOP: more efficient operations
The RefTOP - World Class Refining program brings a set of initiatives that aim to position Petrobras among the best oil refining companies in the world in terms of energy efficiency and operational performance.
Speaking of efficiency, in the first quarter of 2023, we reduced emissions from flares in refineries by 20% compared to 2022. In relation to 2019, the reduction was 50%.
By 2029, we will have US$826 million in new investments in the program, in order to reach the goal of reducing the GHG emissions intensity index in 2030, to a level below 30kg CO2eq/CWT.
By 2029, we will have US$826 million in new investments in the program, in order to reach the goal of reducing the GHG emissions intensity index in 2030, to a level below 30kg CO2eq/CWT.
How we are changing our future
The energy transition has room for combined fossil fuel and biofuel solutions. Therefore, we will seek a strong position to meet the demands for energy derived from oil and natural gas and also offer products for the low carbon market.
In our strategy (Strategic Plan 2050 and Business Plan 2025-2029) focused on Refining, Transport and Marketing, we forecast the expansion of the RefTOP program to our entire refining park, ensuring greater operational availability, lower energy intensity and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
E estamos investindo para produção de BioQAV na RPBC
Nossas refinarias
Discover our refineries throughout Brazil
We own and operate 11 refineries in Brazil, with a total net distillation capacity for crude oil of 1,851 million barrels of oil per day (mbbl/d), in addition to one undertaking still in the implementation phase, the Boaventura Energy Complex. Discover more about our refining park.
Abreu e Lima Refinery (Rnest)
Boaventura Energy Complex
Capuava Refinery (Recap)
Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc)
Alberto Pascoalini Refinery (Refap)
Gabriel Passos Refinery (Regap)
Presidente Getúlio Vargas Refinery (Repar)
Presidente Bernardes Refinery (RPBC)
Paulínia Refinery (Replan)
Henrique Lage Refinery (Revap)
Northeast Lubricants And Derivatives Refinery (Lubnor)
Abreu e Lima Refinery (Rnest)
The Abreu e Lima Refinery (RNEST) is the most modern refinery we have ever built to meet the national demand for oil byproducts. It has the highest conversion rate of crude oil into diesel (70%), an essential fuel for circulating products and wealth in the country.
Boaventura Energy Complex
Boaventura Energy Complex is unit focused on energy diversification and sustainability. Soon, it will start its operations with the processing of raw natural gas.
Capuava Refinery (Recap)
Recap began operations on December 18, 1954 and, currently, it is responsible for selling around 30% of the volume of fuel consumed in the Greater São Paulo area.
Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc)
The Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc) is one of the largest in Brazil, with a capacity to process 239,000 bbl/d. It is responsible for 80% of lubricant production and for the largest natural gas processing in Brazil, the refinery also has the largest portfolio of our products — in total, there are 55 products processed in 43 units.
Alberto Pascoalini Refinery (Refap)
The Alberto Pasqualini Refinery is installed in an area of 580 hectares in the municipality of Canoas-RS. It processes 32,000 m³/day and mainly serves the regional market, with a focus on maximizing diesel oil production.
Gabriel Passos Refinery (Regap)
The Gabriel Passos Refinery, also known as Regap, completed 55 years of operation in March 2023 and is one of the most important and relevant undertakings in the history of Minas Gerais. It serves mainly the market in Minas Gerais and, occasionally, the market in Espírito Santo.
Presidente Getúlio Vargas Refinery (Repar)
The Presidente Getúlio Vargas Refinery (Repar) is responsible for approximately 12% of the national production of oil byproducts. Its products serve mainly the markets of Paraná, Santa Catarina, south of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul.
Presidente Bernardes Refinery (RPBC)
The Presidente Bernardes Refinery (RPBC) is a unit with a high conversion capacity, producing dozens of byproducts with high market value and according to international standards.
Paulínia Refinery (Replan)
This is our largest refinery in oil processing capacity: 69 thousand m³/day. Its production corresponds to approximately 20% of all oil refining in Brazil, processing almost all of the national oil, much of it coming from the Santos Basin (pre-salt).
Henrique Lage Refinery (Revap)
The Henrique Lage Refinery (Revap) has a total area of 10,000,000 m² and began operations in 1980, that is, it has 43 years of history. Currently, this refinery's main responsibility is to supply the São Paulo market and also the Midwest of Brazil.
Northeast Lubricants And Derivatives Refinery (Lubnor)
Refinaria Lubrificantes e Derivados do Nordeste is one of the domestic leaders in asphalt production, and the only refinery in Brazil to produce naphthenic lubricants.
Conheça as nossas refinarias espalhadas pelo Brasil
Etapas do refino do petróleo
Understand the stages of oil refining here
Entenda aqui as etapasdo refino do petróleo
This is how the components of refined oil are separated. Oil is heated at high temperatures until it evaporates, and this vapor returns to a liquid state after cooling at different levels inside the distillation tower. For each level, there is a container that collects a certain oil byproduct, each one with specific characteristics.
Example: atmospheric distillation and vacuum distillation.
This process transforms the heaviest and lowest-value parts of oil, arising from the distillation process, into smaller molecules, giving rise to noble byproducts, such as high-octane gasoline, for example.
These are the processes carried out to adapt byproducts to the quality required by the market. Here, the removal of sulfur obtained from oil takes place.
Examples: diesel hydrotreating and naphtha hydrotreating.
Examples: diesel hydrotreating and naphtha hydrotreating.
Auxiliary processes provide inputs to the operation or treat final waste from other processes. In practice, they serve as support and, without them, it would not be possible to operate a refinery.
Examples: boilers, hydrogen generation and other utilities such as steam, water, electricity, compressed air and much more.
Examples: boilers, hydrogen generation and other utilities such as steam, water, electricity, compressed air and much more.
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