Rio de Janeiro cancels Refit's state registration amid billions in tax debt

On July 1, the State Environmental Institute (Inea) carried out a technical inspection of Refit, the former Refinaria de Manguinhos, as part of a 30‑day review of its environmental licences after federal police and tax investigations identified the company as a major tax debtor.

The Rio de Janeiro state government revoked Refit’s state registration on June 29, labeling the firm “impeded” and preventing it from issuing invoices or purchasing inputs. The cancellation follows debts of roughly R$ 14.3 billion in ICMS alone and total liabilities of about R$ 26 billion to federal and state authorities. The move also includes the governor’s effort to expropriate the refinery’s land, which belongs to the Union, after previous legal setbacks.

Prosecutors have sought bankruptcy for Refit, citing repeated non‑payment of billions in taxes and alleged fraud, money‑laundering and false‑refining practices. The Supreme Court ordered the arrest of owner Ricardo Magro, who is now a fugitive. The investigation, known as Operation “Sem Refino”, also implicated former governor Cláudio Castro and led to the freezing of roughly R$ 52 billion in assets.