Works on train 2 consolidate the expansion of the refinery's capacity, with a total investment of approximately R$12 billion and the creation of more than 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Petrobras celebrates, in Ipojuca (PE), the expansion of the processing capacity of the Abreu e Lima Refinery (RNEST), with the construction of the second set of units (train 2). With the presence of the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; the president of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard; and the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira , the ceremony marks the modernization of Petrobras' refining park, the increase in the supply of fuels in the country and the development of the Northeast region.
'With the expansion of RNEST's refining capacity, we are generating jobs, strengthening regional development and increasing the supply of better quality fuels for the Brazilian population. At the end of the works, the refinery will meet up to 17% of the national demand for diesel, reinforcing the country's energy security,' says the president of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard.
The construction of train 2 is expected to generate around 15,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout the project, with approximately 5,700 workers already employed on the construction site.
Increased capacity
Petrobras will invest approximately R$12 billion to complete train 2 and other maintenance activities on train 1, adding 130,000 barrels per day of processing capacity to the RNEST refinery, allowing it to reach 260,000 barrels per day by the end of the project in 2029.
The expansion will significantly increase the production of refined products, especially S-10 diesel, which will see an increase of 88,000 barrels per day, in addition to gasoline, LPG, and naphtha. This will contribute to reducing the need for imports of these products and contribute to national energy autonomy.
In the first quarter of 2025, the company completed the modernization works (Revamp) of the first set of units (train 1) and the Atmospheric Emissions Abatement Unit (SNOX), which increased the refinery's capacity to 130,000 barrels per day, consolidating the operational conditions for the start of the expansion that is now underway.
Social and environmental commitment and professional qualification
The expansion of RNEST is accompanied by social and environmental investments that benefit 29 communities in seven surrounding municipalities. There are seven ongoing projects and two under contract, totaling approximately 22,000 participants and a projected investment of R$ 110 million by 2029. The initiatives include environmental education, marine conservation, spring restoration, early childhood development, after-school sports activities, and entrepreneurship projects.
The Petrobras Autonomy and Income Program offers free initial, continuing, and technical training courses to expand job opportunities in the region. In Pernambuco, the program offers more than 7,300 places in areas such as mechanics, electricity, instrumentation, civil construction, and metallurgy. By 2025, more than 3,000 places had already been offered in the state, with approximately 800 students having graduated by September, reinforcing employability, professional qualification, and local development.
About RNEST
Located in Ipojuca (PE), the Abreu e Lima Refinery is Petrobras' most modern unit, with a high level of automation, internationally standardized technologies, and a focus on operational reliability, energy efficiency, optimized water use, and maximum safety. In operation since 2014, RNEST is strategic for processing pre-salt oil and has one of the highest diesel conversion rates among the company's refineries.
Source: Petrobras
