
Brazil's Unigel approves deal with Petrobras on fertilizer plants, sources say
The deal would allow state-run Petrobras to work on resuming operations of the two plants in the states of Sergipe and Bahia, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration seeks to reduce Brazil's reliance on imported fertilizer.
Petrobras leased the two nitrogen fertilizer plants to Unigel in 2019 under a 10-year agreement, but both facilities have been shut down since 2023, with Unigel citing unfeasible operating conditions due to high natural gas prices in Brazil.
The deal would reestablish Petrobras' possession over the two plants, according to a securities filing released by the oil firm in April, with operations set to resume after a bidding process to contract services to run and maintain them.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Petrobras subsidiary to relaunch tender for barges in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Brazil's Transpetro, the logistics subsidiary of state-run oil firm Petrobras ( opens new tab, is set to relaunch a tender for building barges after low interest in a May bidding process, Transpetro Chief Executive Sergio Bacci said on Tuesday. In May the firm put up the tender for the four barges intended for fuel transportation operations, four push boats and one tug boat, but only one shipbuilder put up bids, at a price point considered too high by Transpetro, said Bacci. Now the idea is to relaunch the tender including a total of 20 barges, which could make it more attractive to builders, said Bacci on the sidelines of an event in Rio de Janeiro. "We're finalizing the process," said Bacci. "We should release the bidding for the barges in September." In the May announcement, the firm had said it planned to commission 20 barges, 20 push boats and four tug boats by the end of 2026. Bacci did not make clear whether the new tender would also include the remaining push boats and tug boats the firm aims to procure. At the time, Bacci said the new barges would allow Transpetro to become a leading operator for transportation of oil, derivatives and biofuels in Brazil.


Reuters
19 hours ago
- Reuters
Brazil's Petrobras has no planned investments in ethanol, distribution with Raizen
SAO PAULO, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's majority state-owned oil company Petrobras ( opens new tab has no planned investments in ethanol production or distribution of the fuel with Raizen ( opens new tab, the company said in a statement late on Monday. Shares in Raizen jumped earlier in the day following a weekend report from Brazilian newspaper O Globo, which said Petrobras is exploring investment opportunities with the sugar and ethanol producer. They closed Monday at 1.15 Brazilian reais, up 10.6% versus where they finished at the end of last week. Raizen, a joint venture between Cosan ( opens new tab and Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tab, saw its stock plunge more than 16% last week after posting a quarterly loss amid rising net debt. The world's biggest sugar producer is going through difficulties as it contends with soaring net debt, which was just shy of 50 billion reais ($9.2 billion) at the end of the first quarter of the 2025-2026 crop year. Raizen executives said on Thursday that a capital injection from a potential new partner could help turn the company around, alongside divestments of certain assets. On Friday, Cosan's Chief Executive Marcelo Martins also said that securing a new strategic partner was a potential option to improve Raizen's capital structure. In an email to Reuters, London-listed Shell declined to comment on the matter. On Saturday, Raizen declined to comment on the reports concerning itself and Petrobras. ($1 = 5.4368 Brazilian reais)


Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Petrobras favors corn over cane for ethanol, may exclude Raizen, sources say
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's Petrobras ( opens new tab is leaning toward corn as the raw material for a renewed foray into ethanol, potentially sidelining sugarcane and beleaguered sugar producer Raizen ( opens new tab, three Petrobras sources familiar with the matter said, citing preliminary evaluations. Energy company Petrobras, majority-owned by Brazil's government, has previously said its potential return to ethanol would involve buying minority stakes in other companies, similar to past investments. While sugarcane ethanol has not been definitively ruled out, corn ethanol is gaining favor in Petrobras, the sources told Reuters over the weekend, citing falling production costs driven by corn crop growth and rapid expansion in the industry. Sugarcane ethanol output, however, has stagnated amid competition for the raw material from the sugar industry. Petrobras is also eyeing increased corn output in Brazil's northern regions, where ethanol supplies are low but corn production is rising, the sources said. "We're closer to corn than cane. The outlook is better. We're talking to several corn producers," one of the sources said, without naming any companies that Petrobras was talking to. Petrobras declined to comment when contacted through its press office. Two other Petrobras sources said discussions about re-entering the ethanol sector remain in early stages. "The return to ethanol is certain, but there's nothing concrete with anyone," one of those sources said, warning to expect delays to any eventual deal. The company sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Raizen, a joint venture between Cosan ( opens new tab and Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tab that produces sugar and sugarcane ethanol, was hit by bad news last week when it reported a swing to a first-quarter loss and mounting net debt. On Monday, Raizen shares rebounded from a 16% drop last week, fueled by reports over the weekend suggesting that Petrobras may be considering a stake in the company. Raizen said it would not comment on the matter when asked about those reports. "They want to sell to us, but talks haven't even started here," one of the Petrobras sources said, referring to Raizen.