Brazil Seizes 91 Million Liters of Diesel as ANP Interdicts Refit Refinery in Fraud Probe

Overview

• Receita Federal, with Navy support, retained cargoes from two ships carrying diesel and 115 tonnes of additive chemicals, adding to two prior vessel seizures under Operation Cadeia de Carbono.
• ANP ordered a precautionary, indefinite interdiction of Refit’s Manguinhos unit after inspections found no evidence of active refining, use of unauthorized tanks and suspected reclassification of nafta or condensate as finished fuels.
• More than 100 samples of diesel, gasoline, nafta, condensate and additives were collected for forensic analysis that could lead to fines, definitive confiscation of cargoes and criminal action.
• Refit denies wrongdoing, rejects the notion that it acts as a front, asserts compliance with regulations and says it will contest the decision after receiving formal notice.
• Regulators and industry report no immediate risk to supply, with Petrobras’ Reduc positioned to cover demand and the IBP coordinating a situational room to reallocate volumes.