Petrobras begins diesel production in Abreu e Lima.
Petrobras began operating the diesel hydrotreating (HDT) unit at the Northeast Refinery (Rnest), also known as the Abreu e Lima Refinery, in Pernambuco, on Wednesday, with an initial output of 45.915 barrels per day; the first refining unit at Rnest began operating in December, but still at limited capacity.
Reuters - Petrobras began operating the diesel hydrotreating (HDT) unit at the Northeast Refinery (Rnest), also known as Abreu e Lima, in Pernambuco, on Wednesday, with an initial load of 45.915 barrels per day, the company reported on Friday.
The first refining unit (train, in industry jargon) at Rnest began operating in December, but still at limited capacity.
The contracts for the refinery construction are one of the focuses of the Lava Jato Operation investigation by the Federal Police, due to suspicions of overpricing.
The HDT unit, which began operating this week, is responsible for removing sulfur and nitrogen from the various streams that make up diesel fuel, generating a stable end product with a very low sulfur content, known as S-10 diesel.
Diesel is the main product of Rnest, representing about 70 percent of the total volume processed at the refinery, Petrobras said.
"The derivative will primarily serve the North/Northeast market, replacing imports," the company stated in a press release.
The company had predicted that the second refining train at Rnest would begin operating in May of this year, but in January the then Director of Supply, José Carlos Cosenza, stated that there could be delays due to a schedule revision motivated by investigations by the Federal Police.