Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) has signed an agreement with Brazilian government and indigenous groups as part of the licensing process to start construction on its planned 300,000-b/d Premium II refinery in the northeastern state of Ceara.
The agreement, signed on Nov. 22, will create a reservation for the Anace tribe currently occupying the land on which the refinery is to be built, according to a news release from Petrobras.
As part of the accord, Petrobras has agreed to reimburse the government of Ceara up to 15 million reais of the costs it will incur to relocate the tribe, including land acquisition, infrastructure, and compensation to tribe members, the company said.
The previously announced Premium II refinery (OGJ Online, Apr. 4, 2011; Nov. 10, 2010; Jan. 26, 2009) will be built in the municipality of Caucaia in the industrial and port complex at Pecem and will supply the domestic market with low-sulfur oil products, according to Petrobras.
The company did not disclose any revised timetable for when construction on the refinery will resume.
