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Petrobras starts using refined soy oil from Bunge to mix with the diesel produced at the Repar refinery

Written by Ruth Rodrigues
Published 04/08/2022 às 09:12
The agreement between Petrobras and Bunge provides for the supply of refined soybean oil to the state-owned company, which is being destined for initial tests for use in the mixture with the R5 diesel produced at the Repar refinery.
Photo: Petrobras Agency.

The agreement between Petrobras and Bunge provides for the supply of refined soybean oil to the state-owned company, which is being destined for initial tests for use in the mixture with the R5 diesel produced at the Repar refinery.

The company Petrobras announced, last Wednesday (03/08), another contract aimed at refining fuels in Brazil, this time with the company Bunge, for the supply of refined soy oil that will be used in the mixture with the R5 diesel produced in fix, in Paraná. The supply of the resource is already happening and the state-owned company is in the testing phase regarding the use of the fuel mixed with the product in the domestic market. 

Refined soy oil from Bunge is already being used in the initial stages of tests with a mixture of Petrobras diesel produced at the Repar refinery

Petrobras has just announced a new partnership with the company Bunge, for the supply of refined soybean oil produced by the company to be used in the R5 diesel mixture, processed at the Repar refinery, located in the state of Paraná. The announcement was made this week, but the supply of refined soy oil from Bunge has been taking place since July and the contract provides for the start of production by September 2022. 

Now, around 1,5 million liters of the company's refined soy oil will be sent to the Repar refinery for initial tests to use the product in a mixture with the R5 diesel produced in the state of Paraná. In addition, the reception of the national market regarding the new fuel sold by Petrobras will also be evaluated, in order to analyze the company's sales strategies, as well as changes in the production process. 

The R5 diesel produced at Repar is made through the co-processing of vegetable oils, in this case refined soybean oil, with petroleum diesel oil. Thus, the final product leaving the refinery contains a total of 95% mineral diesel, made from petroleum, and only 5% renewable diesel, produced by renewable products such as vegetables.

With the arrival of the new diesel with refined soy oil from Bunge, the distributors will add 10% of biodiesel ester, as established by current legislation, so that there can be adequacy for the domestic market. 

Use of Bunge's refined soybean oil in the diesel produced by the state-owned company could contribute to the renewable fuel market in Brazil 

Renewable diesel has the same uses as mineral diesel, but ensures a strong reduction in environmental impacts during its consumption by cars and, therefore, has been the big bet of the national fuel market.

Furthermore, it can be produced in units industrial designed specifically for its production, or by co-processing in existing hydrotreatment units, where the unit is charged with mineral diesel mixed with vegetable oils.

Thus, Petrobras' initial tests in the production of R5 diesel at Repar aim to use Bunge's refined soy oil to attract those interested in the renewable fuel segment in Brazil. The national transport market is increasingly focused on the vehicle decarbonization plan and, with Petrobras' renewable diesel, this scenario will become closer and closer. 

And, in addition to the introduction of renewable diesel in Repar's production, Petrobras still intends to encourage this new bet for the national fuel market in two more refineries in the Southeast of the country. For this purpose, by the year 2026, US$ 600 million will be invested for this purpose, through the company's Biorefining Program.

Ruth Rodrigues

Graduated in Biological Sciences from the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), she works as a writer and scientific disseminator.

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