Brasília, 6/21/2006 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva laid the cornerstone for the Usina BSBios (where a vegetable oil additive will be manufactured for mixture with diesel fuel) in the city of Passo Fundo (RS). The plant is the country's first biodiesel operation to be financed by the Brazilian Development Bank (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social) (BNDES).

"This cornerstone is going to grow. In a year it will be a factory with jobs, using farm produce to make a new fuel. This is what Brazil needs: peace, tranquility, lots of democracy, jobs, education, income distribution and culture. If we can give that to our people we can die assured that we will have a place in heaven," said the president.

Translation: Allen Bennett