Unigel Group CEO Roberto Noronha told Valor Economico that his company hopes to restart the Bahia (Fafen-BA) and Sergipe (Fafen-SE) nitrogen plants this year. Proquigel Química SA, a unit of Unigel, agreed to lease the two plants from Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), Rio de Janeiro, late last year (GM Nov. 22, 2019). Unigel said putting the plants back into production is a priority, and that it is currently negotiating access to natural gas feedstock with Petrobras and other suppliers.
The Fafen-BA plant is located at the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, Bahia state, with a total urea production capacity of 1,300 mt/d. It also sells ammonia, carbon dioxide, and Arla 32. Fafen-SE, located in Laranjeiras, Sergipe state, has a total urea production capacity of 1,800 mt/d. It also sells ammonia, carbon dioxide, and ammonium sulfate.
The leasing arrangement includes the maritime terminals for ammonia and urea in the port of Aratu in Bahia.