Petrobras starts construction of biggest refinery in Latin America

Brazilian Petrobras started construction of the biggest refinery in Latin America, and the fifth largest in the world, in the state of Maranhao, in northeast Brazil.
The unit will have a production capacity of 600,000 bpd when in full operation as of 2015, with production of fuels such as diesel, aviation fuel, and petrochemical nafta.

The project will require investment of reals 40 bn and will have the capacity to process one third of Petrobras's current production.
The refinery is located in the city of Bacabeira, 60 km from the future port terminal in the state capital Sao Luis, with which it will be linked via a pipeline. The work will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will be concluded in 2013, when the refinery will reach production capacity of 300,000 bpd.

Petrobras currently controls 11 refineries in Brazil, 4 abroad and 5 which are under construction, such as the one at Abreu Lima, also in northeast Brazil, in partnerships with Petroleos de Venezuela.
Petrobras currently has a refinery capacity of 1.9 mm bpd, which is close to its total production of around 2 mm barrels of oil per day.