In the 1990s, the national scenario of that time was that of a globalized market and it permitted the income in the Country of great worldwide producers of paints, varnishes and adhesives, besides the auto industry, which brought new quality requirements and very rigid specifications per application field of each and every product. Consequently, the need of a new type of producer was created, who could meet this market in a quick and differentiated way.

This is how a group of businesspersons, who were working by that time in a number of different economy areas – such as distribution and retail of fuels -, bought in 1997 the family company Univen Fabril e Comercial Ltda, located in the city of Itupeva – São Paulo State, where Univen Petróleo develops its activities until the present days.

Still in the year of 1997 a special solvents producing unit began to be implanted, with a high operational flexibility in both the capacity to process different loads and in solvents production with the most diversified specifications. In 1998, the new industrial facility produced, at first, superior quality food grade hexane and, in 1999, its name changed to Univen Petroquímica Ltda.

In mid 2000 Vibrapar Group was created and Univen was a part of it. By the end of 2002, the company received permission from Agência Nacional de Petróleo (the Petroleum National Agency) – ANP, to operate as an oil refinery.
In 2005, the Refinery industrial facilities were enlarged, with the purpose to increase its production capacity as well as its products portfolio.

In 2007, Vibrapar Group ceases to be a majority company in Univen.

In 2008, Univen entered the upstream by means of RAL Engenharia remise to take part in the exploitation of five blocks in Rio do Peixe Basin  in Paraíba State. In that same year the company changed its name to Univen Refinaria de Petróleo Ltda.

Presently, the enlargement works at Univen are in an advanced stage. So far the following facilities have been concluded:

• New utilities building
• New loading station
• Naphthas treatment unit
• Petroleum Liquid Gas storage center
• Effluents Treatment Station – ETS
• New pipe-rack