Sixteen years after the start of its construction, the former Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical Complex (Comperj), now renamed Boaventura Energy Complex, had its first manufacturing unit inaugurated this Friday (13), in Itaboraí, in Greater Rio. The natural gas processing unit (UPGN) is the largest in the country and will have the capacity to process 21 million cubic meters (m³) per day.
Itaboraí (RJ), 09/13/2024 – President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, poses for a photograph with workers, during a visit to the Natural Gas Plant of the Boaventura Energy Complex, in the Boaventura Energy Complex. Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/PR – Ricardo Stuckert/PR
Present at the event, the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, lamented the halt in the works: “This was supposed to be the great Brazilian petrochemical industry. My dream was thrown in the trash, because they stopped this here, just as they stopped the Abreu e Lima refinery, just as they stopped the possibility of a refinery in Ceará, a refinery in Maranhão.”
According to Minister Alexandre Silveira, the halt in works in 2015 was “cowardly”, which prevented the generation of revenues of R$7 billion, since 2018, when the works were scheduled to be completed, only in refined diesel.
ANP
The authorization to start operations was granted by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) last Monday (9). In the coming days, equipment tests and calibrations will be carried out.
Commercial operations are scheduled to begin early next month. UPGN will receive natural gas directly from the Santos Basin pre-salt layer, via the Rota 3 gas pipeline, which is also starting operations.
According to the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, the UPGN will allow an increase in supply to the national market.
“This natural gas is not just any gas, it is pre-salt natural gas. It is the gas that will reduce our energy dependence and guarantee our food and energy security,” said the minister.
Comperj was announced in 2006, during President Lula’s first term in office, and construction began two years later. The initial plan was for a unit that would refine 165,000 barrels of oil per day and would begin operating in 2012.
As construction progressed and a new, even larger refinery was announced, the opening date was postponed. In 2015, construction was completely halted amid an economic crisis and allegations of corruption at Petrobras.
In 2018, with a new plan to first complete a gas processing unit, UPGN resumed its work.
“For the city, the state and the country, it is a huge representation. After 16 years, we have the achievement of having the first unit. And it brings a huge supply of natural gas to our state. [A UPGN] should increase the country’s gas supply by around 20%”, explained UPGN manager, Leandro Veiga.
The Boaventura Energy Complex will also have Group II lubricant refining units, with the capacity to produce 12,000 barrels per day; QAV-1 aviation kerosene (20,000 barrels/day); and S-10 diesel (75,000 barrels).
Two gas-fired thermoelectric plants (with capacities to generate 1,200 and 600 megawatts) are also planned for the complex, which will operate in synergy with the Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc).
