Institutions debate biofuel technology

Rio Oil & Gas 2008

15/9/2008

Petrobras’ investments in biofuels and in their technological development were the highlight of a conference held this Tuesday (09/15) in the Rio Oil & Gas, which brought together, at a same table, representatives of Petrobras Biocombustível, of Petrobras’ Research Center (Cenpes), Chevron and of UFRJ.

The new company in the sector, Petrobras Biocombustível, will prioritize investments in research in this area. “We will dedicate our efforts to developing second generation biofuels, in partnership with the Cenpes, such as lignocellulose ethanol, which uses residues such as sugarcane bagasse. This process will allow us to increase production by 60% in the same planted area,” said Petrobras Biocombustível’s Industrial director, Ricardo Castello Branco.

The director added that the second generation biofuels are expected to go into commercial production in the world by 2015. “They demand high technological complexity, with the advantage of using refuse as input,” said the director, who also said that until 2010 the first generation technology will predominate.

In addition to the technological challenges, Castello Branco emphasized the fact the company’s goal is to reduce dependency on soybeans for biodiesel production, developing new sources of raw materials, and to build corporate partnerships in ethanol production.

“The demand for biofuels is on the increase and has generated discussions the world over,” said panel moderator Carlos Tadeu da Costa Fraga, the executive manager of Cenpes.

Petrobras press release