Former BR distributor is called Vibra Energia and is now a publicly traded company that works with natural gas

The great Vibra Energy, former BR Distribuidora, will now reach even greater heights in 2022, entering the natural gas segment and becoming a publicly traded company. This is because from March 2021, Wilson Ferreira Júnior took over the company as CEO and began a major restructuring. In addition to these aspects, Wilson also aims to bring renewable energy sources to compose most of the company's energy matrix.

Now the company aims at a low-carbon economy and natural gas and for that, it has a board of directors composed of Sergio Rial, Walter Schalka and Nildemar Secches, both with extensive knowledge in the position of CEO of large corporations. Vibra Energia already has more than 18 customer companies, more than 8 gas stations and 30 million monthly consumers.

Understand a little more about Vibra Energia's plans with the video below

The company is adding layers to its structure, with the incorporation of joint ventures and partnerships to overcome challenges

As the company wants a quick and effective advance, it has established partnerships to operate in new segments and negotiate with joint ventures. Among the main joint ventures, Vibra Energia has Americanas (convenience stores), Copersucar (ethanol), Zeg Biogás (biomethane) and BBF (green diesel).

“What is missing is natural gas and we hope to complement this platform in the coming months. We are working on identifying a competitive origin of the molecule, but the problem is the geopolitical moment. It is a more difficult time to price transactions.”

Wilson Ferreira Júnior (2022) in an interview with Portal NeoFeed

The company operates on two fronts: expanding its operations and working with the challenges of the current scenario. These challenges include a 33,9% drop in net income in 2022, when compared to the same period in 2021, which is equivalent to more than R$325 million. Adjusted EBITDA also brought a decline in 2022 and was calculated at R$ 1,1 billion, 6,3% less than in the previous year.

Natural gas and ethanol are the missing pieces to encompass all renewable energy sources to provide customers

Around 90% of Vibra Energia's customers use fuel oil or diesel and in the transition, over the years, they will tend to look for liquefied natural gas (LNG) or electricity. Currently, natural gas is still obtained from oil.

However, the company aims to identify a competitive source for the molecule, linked to hydrogen as an alternative to the energy matrix. In addition, the partnership with Comerc can contribute to the transition, as it has a calculation of 2 megawatts in solar and wind energy projects.

Brazil is a country that is in second place in the world ranking of ethanol production and gasoline is already blended in 27%. The Vibra Energia team believes that ethanol could also be the key and that, in 2030, Brazil will have around 30% of electric and hybrid cars and, therefore, will invest in the sector.

The climate agenda is a focus of Vibra Energia in the coming years

According to the CEO, the purpose of Vibra Energia for the coming years is to invest in electromobility, encouraging the consumption of green diesel instead of conventional diesel by more than 18 thousand consuming companies. In addition, the objective is to invest in biomethane in land transport and sustainable fuel for aviation.

Still according to him, the expectation is that this whole new system of renewable energy sources will have full demand by 2030. After all, the mobility market is still in transition from fossil fuels to other clean sources. However, the company will facilitate this transition and provide support to potential customers.