PetroChina, Petrobras pursue Aruba refinery-sources

HOUSTON, March 6 (Reuters) - Top Asian oil and natural gas producer PetroChina (PTR.N) (0857.HK) (601857.SS) and Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras (PBR.N) (PETR4.SA) are seen as potential bidders for Valero Energy Corp's (VLO.N) 275,000 barrel per day refinery in Aruba, according to sources familiar with Valero's attempts to sell the refinery.

PetroChina's interest has been known for sometime on the island off Venezuela's coast and was even reported in the local paper, according to the sources. Petrobras renewed its interest in the refinery late last year after pursuing a sale early in 2008 that ended after a January fire in the plant. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by John Picinich)