Petrobras suspended operations at Ansa and Fafen Sergipe fertiliser plants following technical failures and power outages, according to media reports.
Brazil’s state-controlled Petrobras has once again encountered operational setbacks at two of its fertiliser production facilities, according to several media reports. The company has suspended operations at the Ansa nitrogen fertiliser plant in Paraná state and the Fafen Sergipe facility after both units experienced separate technical problems shortly after resuming or maintaining production activities.
According to several media reports, the Ansa unit has remained offline since 30 April following what Petrobras described as an “incident in the compressor room”. The disruption occurred on the same day the facility had officially resumed operations after being inactive since 2020, marking another challenge for the company’s efforts to restore domestic fertiliser production capacity. The Ansa plant is considered one of Brazil’s important nitrogen fertiliser assets, with annual production capacity estimated at 720,000 tonnes of urea, 475,000 tonnes of ammonia, and around 450,000 cubic metres of Arla 32, a diesel exhaust fluid widely used in transportation and industrial applications.
Despite the shutdown, Petrobras stated that ammonia sales from the Ansa facility have continued without interruption. The company added that a timeline regarding the restart of production activities would be disclosed later, once technical evaluations and maintenance procedures are completed. According to several media reports, Petrobras has not yet confirmed the extent of the damage caused by the compressor room incident, but operational assessments are reportedly ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Fafen Sergipe fertiliser plant also suffered an unexpected interruption after a power outage damaged part of the operational systems at the site. Petrobras said the plant had been functioning continuously before the incident and had achieved approximately 90% operational capacity in March. The latest outage represents another obstacle for Brazil’s fertiliser sector, which has been attempting to strengthen domestic production and reduce dependence on imported nitrogen products amid ongoing volatility in global energy and fertiliser markets.
Petrobras noted that fertiliser supply from the Fafen Sergipe plant is currently being supported through existing inventories maintained at the facility. The company also explained that lower seasonal demand for urea in Brazil has helped ease immediate supply concerns. In addition, Petrobras highlighted uncertainty associated with the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has created fluctuations in international fertiliser and energy markets, indirectly affecting supply planning and commercial strategies within Brazil.
According to several media reports, Petrobras further acknowledged that previous shutdowns at the Ansa facility and at the Fafen plants located in Bahia and Sergipe contributed to operational deterioration over time. The company stated that extended idle periods and repeated interruptions increased the need for maintenance work aimed at improving equipment reliability, operational safety, and production continuity across its fertiliser network.
The repeated disruptions underscore the broader challenges Petrobras faces while attempting to revive and stabilise its fertiliser operations after years of reduced activity. Brazil remains heavily reliant on imported fertilisers, particularly nitrogen-based products, making domestic production capacity strategically important for the country’s agricultural sector. Any prolonged shutdown at major facilities such as Ansa or Fafen Sergipe could potentially tighten local supply conditions if demand strengthens later in the year.
At the same time, several media reports believe the current market environment, characterised by softer domestic urea demand and uncertain geopolitical conditions, may temporarily cushion the impact of the outages. However, continued operational instability could raise concerns regarding Petrobras’ ability to maintain reliable fertiliser production and support Brazil’s long-term agricultural supply chain requirements.
