Expansion of Brazilian refinery due by June

Refap SA and Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) will complete the expansion of the 120,000 b/d Alberto Pasqualini refinery in Rio Grande do Sul to 180,000 b/d by June.

Feb. 21, 2006

Peter Howard Wertheim
OGJ Correspondent

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 21 -- Refap SA and Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) will complete the expansion of the 120,000 b/d Alberto Pasqualini refinery in Rio Grande do Sul to 180,000 b/d by June.

The $1 billion project includes the installation of catalytic cracking, coking, and diesel hydrotreating units. It will increase the refinery's ability to process heavy crude and its output of diesel (OGJ, Nov. 21, 2005, p. 18).

Petrobras imports large quantities of light oil to mix with heavy domestic crudes.