Company linked to Arab fund will invest 16 BILLION to create a biorefinery in Bahia

Did you know that a giant from the Middle East is ready to transform the energy scenario in Brazil? Yes, Acelen, a company linked to the Mubadala Capital fund, from the United Arab Emirates, is about to start a massive investment in Bahia, and the numbers are impressive.

A accelerate, created by the investment fund Mubadala Capital, is about to begin one of the largest investments in Brazil's renewable energy sector.

The company announced that, by December of this year, it will begin investing in its first biorefinery in the country, a grandiose project valued at US$3 billion, or approximately R$16,5 billion.

Located in Mataripe, in Bahia, the new biorefinery will be close to the refinery that Acelen acquired from Petrobras more than two years ago.

According to industry sources, the biorefining complex will feature a technology center called Acelen Agripark.

The company is in the final stage of negotiations with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) for a loan of R$250 million, which has already been approved and should be released in the coming weeks.

The objective is to ensure that the project is fully operational in 2027, with an initial production of 1 billion liters of biofuel per year.

The biorefinery: technology and sustainability

A Acelen biorefinery will produce biofuels using mainly macaúba, a plant native to Brazil. The vegetable oil extracted from this plant will be mixed with diesel to create green diesel, in addition to being used in the production of sustainable aviation kerosene (SAF).

To ensure continuous supply of raw materials, accelerate plans to acquire 180 thousand hectares of degraded land between Minas Gerais and Bahia, divided into five equal lots.

Macaúba production, which takes around four years to produce the first harvests, will be gradually increased to meet the biorefinery's demand.

In the first years of operation, while macaúba is still in development, the accelerate will use soybean oil and animal fat to start the biofuel production process.

Additionally, we bring the company is already in talks with aircraft manufacturers and airlines to ensure that the SAF produced meets the needs of the aviation sector.

This is especially relevant considering that the Brazilian Congress is discussing the National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Program, which will require airlines to reduce emissions by 1% per year from 2027.

Petrobras' interest and the future of the project

The new project of accelerate comes at a time of great movement in the Brazilian energy sector.

Mubadala Capital is in talks with Petrobras to resell most of the shares in the Mataripe Refinery, which currently accounts for around 14% of fuel production capacity in Brazil.

However, the process of due diligence carried out by Petrobras, which involved more than 8 thousand questions, has delayed negotiations. The new president of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard, recently stated that repurchasing the refinery is not a priority, although she indicated that the company would accept a donation.

Despite this uncertain scenario, Acelen's shareholders remain firm in their energy transition investment plans, regardless of Petrobras' participation.

The strategy of Mubadala Capital, according to close sources, is to use the Acelen project as a test to assess the feasibility of building four other biorefineries in Brazil.

The focus would be on exporting biofuels produced in these units, which could position Brazil as a global leader in the production of renewable energy.

Regulatory challenges and the dispute with Petrobras

While the accelerate moves forward with its plans, Petrobras has faced regulatory and competition challenges. Acelen filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade), questioning the oil sales prices charged by Petrobras, arguing that these values ​​do not allow the purchase of oil at competitive prices.

Furthermore, the industry association, refine Brazil, recently criticized letters sent by the Ministry of Mines and Energy to the Cade and Oil National Agency (ANP), alleging anti-competitive practices on the part of private refineries.

These disputes highlight the complexity of the fuel market in Brazil and the difficulties faced by new entrants, such as accelerate, who need to deal with the giants in the sector and the rules imposed by regulatory agencies.

Investments in renewable energy and the creation of a solar park

While awaiting the decision on whether or not to sell the Mataripe Refinery, the accelerate is not stopped. The company announced an investment of R$500 million in the construction of a solar park that will supply the refinery with clean energy.

The park is expected to be fully operational in 2026, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and the sustainability of the project as a whole.

Since acquiring the refinery in Bahia, the Arab fund has already invested around R$2 billion in improvements and modernizations, which reflects the long-term commitment to the development of the country's energy infrastructure.

A new era for energy in Brazil?

With a billion-dollar investment, cutting-edge technology and a focus on sustainability, accelerate promises to transform the renewable energy sector in Brazil.

However, regulatory issues and ongoing negotiations with Petrobras still bring uncertainty to the future of the project.

Is Brazil prepared to lead a new era of biofuel and renewable energy production? And how will the entry of international players like Acelen impact the national market? Leave your opinion in the comments!