Brazilian energy group Petrobras (Rio de Janeiro; www.petrobras.com.br) is seeking partners for the PTA, PET and fibres complex it is building at the Port of Suape in Ipojuca in Brazil’s northeastern state of Pernambuco. Paulo Roberto Costa, director of supplies at Petrobras, said the company will turn its attention to securing a partner once it has finished the project.

The project will be started up in phases and is expected to be completed next year. Petrobras subsidiary PetroquímicaSuape (www.petroquimicasuape.com.br) is implementing the project, which includes a 700,000 t/y PTA plant, a 450,000 t/y PET plant and a 240,000 t/y polyester polymers and filaments facility. The latter will have the capacity to produce 86,000 t/y of partially oriented yarn (POY), 85,000 t/y of draw textured filament, 14,000 t/y of fully drawn yarn and 55,000 t/y of polymers. "When the project ends – PTA finishes this year, and PET and POY will finish next year – we intend to have a private partner and not continue with 100%,” Costa remarked. “The intention is to have a private shareholder, but only after finishing the project. Just now, we're focused on finishing the venture.” Petrobras estimates the total cost of the project at BRL 4.9 bn (EUR 2.1 bn).