Petrobras Targets 35% of Brazil’s Nitrogen Fertilizers by 2028 as Bahia Plant Ramps Up

Overview

• Petrobras, which detailed the plan Thursday during a visit to the Bahia Fafen unit, said the reopened plant is running near 90% after a R$100 million overhaul and can make 1,300 tonnes of urea per day.
• Executives set a goal to cover about 35% of national nitrogen needs by 2028 using four plants in Bahia, Sergipe, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, with UFN III slated to start commercial output in 2029 after about US$1 billion to finish construction.
• The company links the fertilizer push to natural gas supply because ammonia and urea come from gas, a shift it says will expand the domestic gas market and reduce reliance on imports that still meet roughly 85% to 90% of demand.
• On Friday Petrobras announced R$37 billion for São Paulo through 2030, including R$17 billion to boost refining with a 5% capacity lift at the Replan refinery by 2027 and a 20 MW solar plant to cut the site’s own gas use.
• The package also funds exploration and logistics in the state, with development work on the new pre‑salt ‘Aram’ area that studies indicate will need a new platform, plus expanded storage and a new pier at the Port of Santos for marine fuels.