Expanding the number of biofuel-producing countries, such as ethanol and biodiesel, is, in the view of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), one of the challenges to be faced by Brazil in order to increase international trade and eventually form a market international biofuels. This challenge is part of the National Energy Plan (PNE) 2050, which is under public consultation on the Ministry's website for 90 days.

With more than 10 pages dedicated to bioenergy, MME highlighted at least four major challenges for bioenergy: "1. Concentration of biofuel production in a few countries in the world; 2. Diversification of biomass for biofuels and development of new biofuels; 3. Diversity of product quality and information asymmetry; and 4. Diversity of actors establishing public policies for the transport sector ".

According to the PNE 2050, Brazil and the United States are responsible for more than 80% of the world production of ethanol and are the two largest producers of biodiesel (37%). The growth and diversification of countries in the production and consumption of biofuels is a necessary and urgent condition.

In the final recommendations on bioenergy, the PNE 2050 also highlights: 1. Articulate, together with competent authorities, participation in initiatives to increase the diversification of ethanol producers in the world; 2. Increase the attractiveness of biofuels in transport segments with greater difficulty in decarbonisation through broad national and international coordination with governments, institutions and society; 3. Articulate, together with competent authorities, the disclosure of compliance with environmental protection legislation in the biofuel production chain; and 4. Increase the convergence between policies related to biofuels.

"The new Plan (which is under public consultation) rescues the long-term planning of the energy sector that had been paralyzed since the publication in 2007 of PNE 2030", highlights the MME advisory.

Also according to the MME, "the PNE 2050 signals the commitment of the Bolsonaro Government to guide energy policy decisions from a strategic and long-term view. The document was prepared with the invitation of the Energy Research Company (EPE) from MME guidelines and the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) will approve it in due course ".

In a context of great unpredictability, the Plan seeks to explore alternatives for the future in order to improve the decision-making process in energy policies. "The variety of possibilities and the resulting uncertainty requires the decision-maker to avoid choices that lead to technological trajectories that become more costly, the option of interrupting their implementation, if they are later shown to be wrong, a phenomenon known as technological lock-up".

With a view to an effective public debate and the expansion of opportunities for presentation and knowledge of the PNE 2050, the public consultation period will last for three months. Contributions can be made by accessing the MME website, where documents will be available.

See the full 2050 National Energy Plan and participate in the Public Consultation by clicking here.