2023-06-23 16:36:22
The reestablishment of the schedule of increasing blending of biodiesel with diesel oil is a political, socio-environmental and economic victory for Brazil. It is time to consolidate the expansion of biodiesel in the energy matrix, with the necessary predictability in a ten-year plan that ensures a perennial and sustainable evolution. “The National Congress has an important role to play in establishing laws and making this scenario a reality”, says federal deputy Alceu Moreira (MDB-RS), president of the Mixed Biodiesel Parliamentary Front (FPBio)
The expansion of the mixture must be continuous. It serves for Brazil to develop its agro-environmental characteristic, to produce products with a ‘green seal’. “Having more biodiesel is also synonymous with energy security and results in less spending on diesel imports”, recalls Moreira.
Currently, 12% of biodiesel is mixed with diesel oil, derived from petroleum, polluting fossil fuel. This mixture is called B12. From 2024 the mixture will be 13% (B13); in 2025 it will be B14 and in 2026 it will become B15.
According to Alceu Moreira, this continuous increase in the mixture generates advantages for all companies that use diesel B, which is the one that contains a portion of biodiesel and is sold at gas stations. They manage to earn gains from the reduction of their emissions. “More biodiesel also results in better air quality; in fewer health problems, with more people producing; and more farming families incorporated into the production chain of this biofuel – today there are 300,000 people”, emphasizes Alceu Moreira.
Biodiesel also adds value to the animal protein chain, with effects on the reduction of production costs, export prices and sales in the domestic market. This is because biodiesel production stimulates, in addition to soy oil, a greater supply of bran for animal feed, which puts downward pressure on prices.
“Amplifying these and other positive effects is the true role of the biodiesel policy that the Mixed Parliamentary Front for Biodiesel of the National Congress seeks to improve”, he says. One of the points is to incorporate even more farming families into the supply chain of raw materials for biodiesel production, especially in the north, northeast and semi-arid regions. This theme was addressed directly by Alceu Moreira with ministers Carlos Fávaro (Agriculture) and Paulo Teixeira (Agrarian Development) on the last 20th, in two audiences at the Esplanada dos Ministérios. The deputy comments on these hearings in this video .
The proposal to be presented by FPBio very soon to the National Congress foresees establishing a ten-year plan, with annually renewable commitments, in order to ensure long-term predictability for the entire production chain; promote research to further raise the mix as quickly as possible; expand biodiesel production centers to even more regions – production is authorized to take place in 59 plants located in 15 states; encourage research into engines running 100% on biodiesel; establish lines of financing for the entire production chain; create by law a diesel B traceability program to increase consumer safety.
Alceu Moreira points out that “in terms of quality, it has been proven that increasing the biodiesel content to fossil diesel does not cause problems for engines”, as shown by all the tests carried out with the participation of automakers, scientists and research institutes, led by the government. “Quite the contrary, a good part of the problems of non-compliance with diesel B is due to the lack of good practices in the management and handling of this fuel and not due to any issues related to the quality of the biodiesel”, he adds.
So much so that the FPBio wants to start negotiations with the government and other actors to include B20 in the schedule for the gradual increase in the mixture, that is, the 20% content of national biodiesel to diesel oil. In recent months, the price of biodiesel has been reduced sequentially, which helps to force the consumer price down, recalls the deputy. In addition, millions of reais in investments, in different states, have been announced by businessmen interested in expanding this biofuel market.
It is now up to the National Congress to become more involved in debating with the government and the productive sector the improvement of the National Program for the Production and Use of Biodiesel. “If governing is about making choices, promoting the expansion of biodiesel, instead of fossil fuels, is one of the right choices”, evaluates Alceu Moreira.
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