Brasília - The National Biodiesel Program, authorized yesterday (6) by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva through a Provisional Measure, will permit the introduction of a new fuel in Brazil. The market will receive a product obtained from raw materials such as castor beans, soybeans, and dendé palm nuts.

With the Biodiesel Program, Brazil is initiating a new cycle in the energy sector and reinforcing incentives for the use of renewable energy sources and the diversification of the country's energy matrix. Renewable sources currently represent 43.8% of the Brazilian matrix, compared with the global average of 13.6% and the developed countries' average of only 6%.

Biodiesel is a biodegradable fuel obtained from renewable sources such as vegetable oils and animal fats which, in the presence of a catalyst, react chemically with alcohol or methanol. Various species of oilseed plants exist in Brazil that serve for the production of biodiesel: castor bean plants, dendé palms, sunflowers, babaçu palms, soybeans, and cotton.

In the National Biodiesel Program, the new fuel replaces in whole or in part diesel oil derived from petroleum in diesel engines used in trucks, tractors, pickups, and automobiles, as well as in the generation of energy and heat. It can be used in its pure state or mixed with diesel in different proportions. A mixture containing 2% biodiesel is referred to as B2, and so on up to pure biodiesel, denominated B100.

The addition of 2% biodiesel to diesel oil derived from petroleum does not require any modifications in engines. The motors that go on to use biodiesel mixed with diesel in this proportion will have their factory warranty assured by the National Association of Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers (ANFAVEA).

Agência Brasil
Reporters: Ana Paula Marra and Nelson Motta
Translator: David Silberstein
12/07/2004