This Wednesday (15), the government announced the main guidelines for the RenovaBio programme, which aims to increase the production of biofuels in the country. Launched by the Ministry of Mines and Energy in December last year, the programme was presented to representatives of the sector, and will undergo public consultation, so that improvements might be made by 20 March.

RenovaBio actions shall strive to reach competitiveness in production, marketing and use of biofuels, encouraging competition between biofuels themselves and in relation to fossil fuels. Emphasis will be given to security of supply, combating anti-competitive practices and protecting consumers' interests vis-à-vis price, quality and supply.

Environment

According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the RenovaBio programme will also help in the process of reducing greenhouse effect gases emissions in 43% by 2030, according to targets agreed to by the Paris Climate Conference.

“We understand that this is an extremely important acknowledgement of the importance of biofuels, in economic activity,as well as in social and environmental benefits for the country," said the Managing Director of the Brazilian Union of Biodiesel and Biokerosene (Ubrabio), Donizete Tokarski, who attended the meeting.

According to him, one of the sector's demands is anticipating the increase in the percentage of biodiesel blended with diesel. Currently, this percentage is at 7% (biodiesel B7) and will increase to 8% (B8) in March this year, and to 9% (B9) in March of next year. Ubrabio wants to move the date when B9 will brought into the market forward, to July this year.

Public Consultation

The public consultation is fruit of dialogue between the federal government and the productive sector, which together drew up general guidelines for the building of actions, allowing the increase of the share of renewable fuels in an environment that encourages technological innovation, supplying for the growth in the market.

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Fernando Coelho Filho, pointed out that the launch of the public consultation marks the return of dialogue with the sector, stressing the importance of biofuels in the energy mix.

“Launching this public consultation emphasizes the value of dialogue between all agents of the sector and enhances the interest of this ministry in developing the biofuels sector. This is the beginning of a path that we have started traveling on, "said the minister.