Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras is delaying the planned startup of three sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plants by about one year, according to a presentation by the company’s Industrial Processes and Products Director, William Franca.
The revised timelines place the three projects at refineries and complexes in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, with the first facility now expected to begin operations in 2030. The other two plants are scheduled for 2031 or later.
Together, the three SAF facilities are planned to have a combined production capacity of 45,000 barrels per day, according to the information presented by Franca.
RPBC SAF plant startup moved to 2030
The first project, planned at Petrobras’ RPBC refinery in Cubatao, is now expected to start operations in 2030.
The previous target had been 2029, meaning the project has been pushed back by approximately one year.
The revised schedule forms part of Petrobras’ broader plans for expanding its involvement in the energy transition, although the supplied information does not provide further details on the reasons for the delay.
Two further Petrobras SAF projects pushed to 2031 or later
Petrobras has also revised the expected timelines for two other SAF facilities.
A SAF unit at the Boaventura complex in Rio de Janeiro is now slated to begin operations in 2031 or later, compared with the previous 2030 target.
Meanwhile, a planned plant at the REPLAN refinery in Paulinia has also been delayed from 2030 to 2031 or later.
The three projects therefore now have staggered timelines, with RPBC expected to start first in 2030, followed by the Boaventura and REPLAN facilities from 2031 onwards.
Petrobras links projects to energy transition strategy
The project delays come as Petrobras prepares its next business plan covering 2027 to 2031.
Franca said at an event in Rio de Janeiro that the forthcoming plan will place a strong focus on the energy transition. The company is currently finalising the plan.
The SAF projects form part of that broader transition focus, although the source material does not provide additional details on the investment allocation or specific technologies planned for the three facilities.
The combined planned capacity of 45,000 barrels per day would represent a substantial addition to Petrobras’ proposed SAF production portfolio once the facilities are operational.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
The revised timelines show that Petrobras’ SAF development programme is moving at a slower pace than previously planned. All three projects have experienced schedule extensions, with the RPBC facility now targeting 2030 and the Boaventura and REPLAN projects pushed to 2031 or later.
The significance of the projects will depend on their eventual execution and commissioning. For now, the key development is the revised schedule and Petrobras’ indication that energy transition will remain a major focus of its 2027–2031 business plan.
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