From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – Investments in new projects in the petrochemical sector in Brazil should reached US$ 8.06 billion in the period between 2007 and 2010. The estimate was made by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and was released today (27). According to the bank, the resources will allow an expansion in the benzene production capacity by 45%. Today the country produces 3.4 million tonnes per year of the product, which is the main input of the petrochemical industry.
There will also be, according to the BNDES, new projects for the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, PET and PVC. Of the foreseen investments, the bank should finance US$ 3.39 billion. When all undertakings are operational, as of 2012, the BNDES estimates the country will save US$ 6.8 billion with imports of petrochemical products.
Still according to the bank, the plants to be established should use raw materials that are considered alternative, like natural gas, refinery gasses and heavy oil, which is the most abundant in Brazil.
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
