Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
5 min of reading 
0 comments 
ANP Grants Special Authorization for Petrobras to Market Marine Diesel with Renewable Biofuel, Ensuring Legal Security, Alignment with International Standards, and Support for Energy Transition in the Naval Sector.
In December 2025, the Board of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) authorized Petrobras to market marine diesel containing renewable biofuel, regularizing ongoing operations and strengthening the decarbonization agenda for naval transportation in Brazil.
The decision has retroactive effects, providing legal security to contracts established since November and allowing the continuation of sales until the agency completes its final review of the regulation governing marine fuels. The ANP’s approval represents a significant step toward the introduction of lower carbon intensity solutions in the maritime sector, maintaining rigorous technical and regulatory standards.
ANP Authorizes Petrobras and Ensures Legal Security for Marine Diesel
The authorization granted by the ANP allows Petrobras to continue selling the so-called Diesel Verana, a marine diesel obtained through the coprocessing of 5% vegetable oil, characterizing the addition of renewable biofuel to the traditional formulation.
-
CNPE strengthens policy and prevents imported biodiesel from being mixed with diesel, aiming to strengthen the Brazilian industry and protect jobs by reducing external dependence amid tensions in the global market.
-
Revolution in public transport: Goiânia puts into circulation the first articulated buses powered by biomethane in Brazil and promises to drastically reduce pollution on the Anhanguera Corridor.
-
From the field to the pipelines: Mato Grosso do Sul accelerates the energy transition and consolidates a new axis in renewable energy with the arrival of a giant biogas plant.
-
The Economist states that Brazil has a “secret weapon” against expensive oil and highlights how the country can reduce economic impacts even in international scenarios of high volatility.
The central point of the decision lies in legal security. As sales began before the express authorization from the regulatory agency, Petrobras requested a special authorization with retroactive effects. After technical and regulatory analysis, the ANP understood that the measure was necessary to regularize the existing situation and provide market predictability.
Furthermore, the authorization establishes clear criteria for the continuity of product sales until the final normative review is completed, avoiding regulatory uncertainty and contractual interruptions.
How Petrobras Developed Marine Diesel with Renewable Biofuel
The development of the new marine diesel occurred in a planned and transparent manner. In August, Petrobras presented to the ANP the production and marketing plan for the fuel. In October, the first production took place at the Presidente Bernardes Refinery (RPBC), located in Cubatão, São Paulo state.
Sales began in November, prior to formal authorization, which led to a subsequent request for regularization. This move reflects the technical maturity of the product and the growing demand for fuels aligned with energy transition strategies.
The Diesel Verana stands out for incorporating renewable biofuel without requiring significant changes to the logistical infrastructure or the vessels’ engines, a factor considered strategic for gradual adoption in the naval sector.
Regulatory Gap for Marine Diesel Motivated ANP’s Special Authorization
The need for special authorization arose from a regulatory gap. Resolution ANP No. 903/2022, which establishes the specifications for marine use fuels, does not provide for the addition of biofuels to marine diesel.
Given this scenario, the revision of the regulation was included in the ANP Regulatory Agenda 2025-2026, under the rapporteurship of director Pietro Mendes, with completion planned for 2026. Until then, the special authorization functions as a temporary instrument to allow regulated innovation.
This approach avoids halting initiatives aligned with decarbonization, while preserving the agency’s role as guarantor of fuel quality and safety.
ANP Technical Evaluation Confirms Quality of Coprocessed Marine Diesel
The technical area of the ANP thoroughly evaluated the formulation presented by Petrobras and concluded that the product meets the quality parameters required for conventional marine diesel.
The technical opinion also identified regulatory precedents, such as special authorizations previously granted for bunker B24, which reinforced the consistency of the decision made.
This point is essential for the market, as it demonstrates that the introduction of renewable biofuel does not compromise fundamental technical requirements such as performance, stability, and operational safety of vessels.
Alignment of Marine Diesel with International IMO Guidelines
Another determining element in the decision was the alignment of the initiative with the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which guide the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in global maritime transport.
The ANP recognized that the coprocessed diesel from Petrobras is in accordance with these guidelines by reducing the carbon intensity of the fuel without requiring immediate structural changes to the naval fleet.
This international alignment strengthens Brazil’s position, signaling that the country is keeping pace with the main global trends of decarbonization in one of the most challenging sectors of the energy transition.
Strategic Role of Petrobras in Naval Energy Transition
Petrobras has been expanding its role in developing fuels with lower environmental impact, and marine diesel with renewable biofuel fits directly into this strategy.
The coprocessing in existing refineries allows for incremental environmental gains, utilizing already installed assets and reducing technological risks. Furthermore, it creates a regulatory learning environment that contributes to the evolution of the Brazilian regulatory framework.
The initiative also sends a clear signal to the market, showing that there is room for innovation in the fuel sector, as long as it is accompanied by rigorous technical criteria and constant dialogue with the ANP.
Impacts of ANP’s Authorization on the Marine Diesel Market
In practice, the ANP’s decision generates direct effects for the Brazilian marine diesel market. Among the main impacts are the regularization of contracts established by Petrobras, the continuation of the supply of coprocessed fuel, and the reduction of regulatory uncertainties.
For shipowners and operators, the measure expands options for fuels with lower carbon intensity, without requiring immediate changes in vessel operations. For the regulated sector, it reinforces predictability and institutional confidence.
Regulatory Review by ANP and the Future of Marine Diesel with Renewable Biofuel
Despite the progress represented by the special authorization, definitive regulation is still under construction. The revision of Resolution ANP No. 903/2022 should permanently regulate marine diesel with renewable biofuel and possibly other low-carbon fuels, including synthetic fuels.
According to a statement from director Symone Araújo, rapporteur of the case, the authorization seeks to regularize the existing situation, provide legal security, and establish clear parameters until the completion of the regulatory review, scheduled for 2026.
A Regulatory Milestone for the Decarbonization of Maritime Transport
The authorization granted by the ANP to Petrobras for the sale of marine diesel with renewable biofuel goes beyond a specific administrative decision. This is a significant milestone in the evolution of Brazilian energy regulation, balancing innovation, legal security, and alignment with international guidelines.
By allowing the continuation of a lower environmental impact solution, the agency creates conditions for the naval sector to gradually advance in decarbonization without abrupt disruptions. The case reinforces the strategic role of the ANP and Petrobras in building a more modern, sustainable fuel market aligned with the global challenges of energy transition.
Seja o primeiro a reagir!