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The maintenance shutdown in a Petrobras refinery poses problems in the supply of aviation fuel to Brazil. According to the companies in the sector, the most affected segments are those dependent on aircraft for spraying agricultural pesticides in crops, mainly in the South.
Used in small aircraft, aviation gasoline is produced by a single Brazilian refinery. , located in Cubatão, on the coast of São Paulo. The unit responsible for the manufacture of fuel was closed for maintenance end 2018.
According to the ANP (National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels), no gasoline production of 39, aviation was produced in the country in September or October. Between November and November, domestic production was 15.3% lower than in the previous year.
"We started to identify the problem at the end of the year, according to the report of some entrepreneurs, especially in Rio Grande-du-Sud and in the interior of São Paulo," he said. said Gabriel Colle, director of Sindag (Union of Agricultural Aviation Societies).
Brazil has the largest fleet of aircraft in the world for agricultural aviation, with 2,115 aircraft, according to the Sindag.
About half uses aviation gasoline. On the rest, 35% use ethanol and the rest, aviation kerosene, fuel that fuels large turbine aircraft.
The union estimates that about 10% of this fleet, or about 200 aircraft, are currently unable to fly foul. fuel. Rice paddies in Rio Grande do Sul are reported to be the most affected – 80% of the 450 planes in the state are fueled by gasoline.
"The problem could be worse, but since it's raining a lot in the area, the planes are stationary," says Colle. Sindag estimates that inventory planning to supply the market during refinery maintenance was problematic.
Petrobras claims that the shutdown had already been planned and that he had informed his customers that he would import the product during the period without national production. "At this date, five million liters are released for sale to distribution companies," said the public company in a statement.
This volume is equivalent to the average consumption recorded in January during the last three years. years, according to data from the ANP. Petrobras says it has already imported 11.5 million liters since the closure of the refinery.
"Two new imports are expected to be delivered in late January and February," said the state-owned company, noting that "delays have occurred" (19659002) The main distributor of kerosene for l & # 39; aviation in Brazil, with about 40% of sales in 2017 (latest available data), says BR which began Monday (14), after receiving the product from Petrobras, to replenish its customers. The company expects all airports served will be served until Thursday (17).
The second largest of the sector, the Raízen – badociation between Shell and the Cosan group – did not grant an interview to comment on the subject. In 2017, the company achieved 38% of sales. The rest of the market is split between Air BP and Gran Petro, according to the ANP
Historically, Brazil has produced more aviation kerosene than it consumes, according to the regulatory agency.
Responsible for ensuring the national supply of fuels, the ANP said in a note that "the supply logistics change has generated oscillations in the supply, which are already normalizing. "
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