Manguinhos Refinery Fully Released by Court Order, Ending Weeks-Long Dispute
Rio de Janeiro, October 27, 2025 – A Brazilian court has ordered the full release of the Refit-operated Manguinhos refinery in Rio de Janeiro, overturning a partial ban imposed by the national Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). The decision, issued today, ends a weeks-long standoff sparked by allegations of fuel import fraud and operational irregularities.
The dispute began after the Federal Revenue Service launched “Operation Carbon Chain” investigating irregularities in the import and sale of fuels, oil, and derivatives. This led to the closure of RefitS entire derivatives production facility. Authorities allege the import scheme facilitated crimes including money laundering, currency evasion, and tax evasion.
Refit contested the ANP’s actions, arguing the closure was “extreme, arbitrary and disproportionate,” and a “transverse bankruptcy” given the company’s ongoing judicial recovery. They maintained they presented two scientific reports proving the inspected products were not finished gasoline, and that the ANP announced the closure while inspections were still underway. A key point of contention was the ANP’s claim that imported product, declared as crude oil, was actually a nearly finished product intended for formulation, not refining.
The company also lodged a criminal complaint against ANP directors Pietro Mendes and Symone Christine de Santana Araújo, alleging the action against manguinhos occurred without full board knowledge.
The court granted Refit’s request for full release pending a final judgment on an injunction, citing the risk of “irreparable damage or damage that is difficult to repair.” The judge also ordered an expert assessment to address operational failures, lack of authorizations, and technical/structural irregularities identified by the ANP, emphasizing the need for “documentary and technical proof before resuming production.”
Prior to today’s full release, the ANP had partially lifted the ban last Saturday (October 25th), three days after Refit secured a meeting between it’s technicians and agency specialists. Over 90 million liters of crude oil and hydrocarbon mixtures had been retained, which Refit argued were “fungible goods essential to productive activity” whose retention hampered operations and prevented receipt of new cargo.
The ANP maintains its inspection action followed all applicable procedures and principles of public administration. The agency stated it was not informed of the court’s decision and will onyl comment on the case records.
Refit also has three lawsuits pending against Petrobras,including one for R$15 billion,and Petrobras was initially designated as the depository for fuel held at the Manguinhos refinery - a point of contention raised by Refit.
