Biofuel

Biofuels are produced from renewable sources, such as biomass and agricultural products like sugar cane, oleaginous plants, and animal fat.

Biofuels afford many environmental benefits, among which lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the generation of fewer particulate pollutants.

The investments we have made in biofuels reassert our commitment to attaining development associated to socioenvironmental responsibility. Our goal is to create and improve technologies that ensure global leadership in the production of biofuels.

In 2008, Petrobras incorporated its wholly owned subsidiary Petrobras Biocombustível, which produces ethanol and biodiesel. Present in all regions of the country, the Company aims to produce biofuels in Brazil and abroad in a safe, profitable manner and with social and environmental sustainability, thus contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and driving development in the countries where has operations.

In the ethanol segment, Petrobras Biocombustível has signed on partnerships to produce the biofuel. The bagasse of the sugarcane used to produce ethanol is reused to generate electric power. Part of that energy energizes the plants, while the rest is sold.

Petrobras Biocombustível operates in both production and marketing in the biodiesel business. The company also trades subproducts derived from biodiesel production, such as glycerin, fatty acid, gum, castor oil, soybean meal, castor bean cake, sunflower meal and sunflower oil.

Click here for Petrobras Biocombustível's organizational chart. (available in portuguese only)

- 2012-2016 Business Plan (available in portuguese only)

- Public Documents (available in portuguese only)

Ethanol

Brazil is world renowned for its pioneering work in introducing a biofuel produced from sugarcane in its energy matrix: ethanol.

Since the late 1970's, when the "Proálcool" program was rolled-out, ethanol gained great momentum and became, definitively, an important source of energy for the Country.

Petrobras Biocombustível invests in technological innovations to increase not only the productivity, but also the sustainability of this biofuel production chain, as is the case of second-generation ethanol, which is obtained from sugarcane bagasse.

Biodiesel

Since 2010, all of the diesel marketed in Brazil contains a mixture of 5% biodiesel, which is a fuel produced from oilseed crops grown in Brazil, such as soybeans, cotton, palm, castor beans, sunflower and canola, as well as animal fat and frying oil waste.

Petrobras Biocombustível owns three biodiesel plants, in Candeias (state of Bahia), Quixadá (state of Ceará) and Montes Claros (state of Minas Gerais), and two more in partnerships, one of which in Marialva (state of Paraná) and the other in Passo Fundo (state of Rio Grande do Sul).

All plants hold the Social Fuel Seal, awarded by the Ministry of Agrarian Development to biodiesel producers that promote social inclusion and regional development.

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Sustainability

Our principles of sustainability are:

  • Contribute to mitigating climate change and reduce air pollution;

  • Produce in accordance with the law, respecting human and labor rights and furthering decent work along the production cycle;

  • Contribute to the social and economic development of the communities in our operations' areas of influence;

  • Drive food security associated to the production of biofuels;

  • Prioritize the use of degraded areas, respecting agro-ecological zoning and the conservation of biodiversity, water, and other natural resources;

  • Support good agricultural practices, optimizing soil and feedstock use and quality;

  • Operate in a transparent manner;

  • Seek long-term feasibility in the productive cycle.

  • Develop technologies and management practices that contribute to sustainability over the life cycle of the biofuels.

  • Main Operations

    See on the map where the main ethanol and biodiesel plants are located.

  • Sustainability

    Get to know Petrobras Biocombustivel's Sustainability Policy and Principles.

    Learn more.

  • Products

    Biodiesel byproducts can be used for several purposes and are of great importance to the areas where they are applied. Get to know each one of them and check out their technical characteristics.

    Download the list of products PDF
    (available in portuguese only)

  • Contests

    Work with us. Hiring at Petrobras Biocombustível takes place by means of approval in a competitive examination.