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Energy giant and bunker supplier Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) has confirmed that it is still currently unable to load its bunker barges with fuel as a result of the fire at the Ultracargo terminal in Santos.

In an email announcement, the company said yesterday: "Please note that fire at Ultracargo terminal has not been extinguished and for this reason Petrobras is not allowed to load bunker barges, according to Port Authority decision.

"Therefore, Petrobras has no option but to declare force majeure in bunker operations in Santos.

"Feel free to contact our offices in order to transfer bunker operations to other ports."

Firefighters have been attempting to extinguish the fire that has engulfed a number of fuel tanks at the Santos facility since Thursday morning.

According to the Santos local fire service, over 100 firefighters have been working around the clock to prevent the flames from spreading further.

Ultracargo is the largest liquid bulk storage company in Brazil. Its terminal in Santos has 75 tanks and a total storage capacity of 301,300 cubic metres (cbm). The products handled there are fuels, chemicals, vegetable oils, ethanol and corrosive products.