GasBrasiliano starts operating the 1st isolated biomethane distribution pipeline that supplies 3 municipalities in the interior of São Paulo

The municipalities of Presidente Prudente, Narandiba and Pirapozinho benefit from the supply of biomethane thanks to GasBrasiliano's isolated gas distribution pipeline.

GasBrasiliano's isolated distribution gas pipeline, which is connected to the Cocal plant, allowed the arrival of biomethane gas supplies to Presidente Prudente, Narandiba and Pirapozinho, municipalities in the interior of São Paulo.

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Isolated GasBrasiliano gas pipeline supplies municipalities in the interior of São Paulo

At the end of January, GasBrasiliano began operating the first isolated biomethane distribution system in Brazil.

The project uses renewable fuel generated by the Cocal group and supplies the municipalities of Presidente Prudente, Narandiba and Pirapozinho, located in the interior of São Paulo.

These municipalities in the interior of São Paulo are located at a distance of 200 km from the Bolivia-Brazil Gas Pipeline (Gasbol), a circumstance that proved to be economically unviable the implementation of a conventional connection project to the integrated GasBrasiliano network.

Despite this, the gas pipeline brought a supply option to the municipalities.

The biomethane plant at Usina Cocal produces fuel by processing sugarcane residues, such as vinasse, straw and filter cake, supporting a production of up to 25 m³/day.

The interconnection of the supply source was carried out through the construction of approximately 65 km of distribution network, from Usina Cocal, in Narandiba, to the industrial consumer market, in Presidente Prudente.

The project totaled an investment of R$180 million, of which R$30 million was used to build GasBrasiliano's exclusive distribution network.

In turn, Cocal invested R$ 150 million in the biogas plant for the production of biomethane.

The industries in the region are the first to be supplied by the project. As an example, Liane, a company in the food segment, aims to reach a target of 30% bioenergy in its energy matrix and will use biomethane in ovens and boilers.

By 2022, 70% of the company's matrix consisted of conventional electricity, 10% of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 20% of BPF fuel oil. Reducing monthly costs by around 30% is the company's intention.

Biomethane production potential

Brazil has the potential to produce around 30 million m³/day of biomethane by 2023, according to the Brazilian Biogas Association (Abiogás).

The Brazilian Association of Piped Gas Distributors (Abegás) and Abiogás consider that national biomethane production has the capacity to reach 2,2 million m³/day by the year 2027, an estimate 5,5 times higher than current levels.

If this potential proves to be as expected, the biomethane sector will contribute with “new gas” of 1,8 million m³/day in five years.

In addition to Cocal, companies such as Gás Verde (Urca Energia), Orizon, Raízen Geo Biogás and Ecometano, from the MDC group, are among the leading agents in production.

The generation of this biogas fuel is growing at short steps, but its sustainable nature has attracted the attention of industries interested in the environmental footprint.

Otherwise, biomethane appears as an opportunity for piped gas companies to reduce their dependence on Petrobras.

Following GasBrasiliano's initiative as an example, investment by other companies in gas pipeline projects to supply municipalities with biomethane brings a positive focus on environmental concerns to the institutional image, in addition to configuring an option for inputs in addition to supplies by Petrobras.