Brazil’s state energy company Petrobras has reportedly made a Final Investment Decision (FID) to build a plant producing bio-jet fuel (bioQAV) and renewable diesel at its RPBC (Refinaria Presidente Bernardes) refinery in Cubatão, São Paulo State. The investment is valued at approximately $1.2 billion.
The plant will be built within the existing RPBC refinery site as a dedicated facility for producing bio-jet fuel and renewable diesel. Petrobras stated that it is now moving toward the final contracting stage following this investment decision, though the specific EPC contractor and process technology licensor have not yet been disclosed.
The investment is valued at approximately $1.2 billion, with production capacity reported at up to 15,000 barrels per day (bpd) of combined renewable fuels (bio-jet fuel and renewable diesel). Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of 2026, with commercial operation targeted for 2030.
This decision is reportedly part of Brazil’s move to build up domestic bio-jet fuel production capacity in response to aviation decarbonization regulations.
As the aviation industry’s demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) grows, refiners are increasingly investing in dedicated biofuel facilities built on existing refinery sites.
Attention is on when and with which contractor Petrobras will sign the EPC contract for this plant, and whether the planned construction start by the end of 2026 will be met.