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Unica descarta ameaça judicial ao Renovabio

  • : Biofuels, Emissions
  • 24/01/18

A Política Nacional de Biocombustíveis (Renovabio) está a caminho de solidificar ainda mais a presença dos renováveis na matriz energética brasileira, avalia o presidente da União da Indústria de Cana-de-Açúcar e Bioenergia (Unica), Evandro Gussi, apesar das distribuidoras que aderiram à judicialização para não cumprir as metas do programa.

Algumas das distribuidoras de combustíveis que não cumpriram a meta de compra de Cbios em 2022 levaram a tribunal reclamações sobre o programa de descarbonização, em uma pressão crescente por mudanças de regras do programa.

Há pelo menos 16 distribuidoras com liminares para não cumprir metas do Renovabio, apurou a Argus em outubro. Em boa parte dos casos, o pleito alega que o impacto da pegada de carbono da cadeia de combustíveis fósseis não deveria ser integralmente assumido pelo elo distribuidor. Uma vitória desses varejistas poderia colocar o Renovabio em xeque.

O presidente da Unica revelou que há estudos em curso que poderiam vincular o descumprimento das metas à hipótese de crime ambiental, já que o Renovabio é uma reposta ao Acordo de Paris.

"Eu e a Unica olhamos para essas distribuidoras com perplexidade e com uma pergunta: até quando eles acham que esse tipo de comportamento antiambiental vai perdurar?", Gussi respondeu a uma pergunta da Argus em um evento nesta semana.

Gussi apontou que há um interesse crescente no Renovabio no exterior, especialmente de países que buscam uma expansão da sua capacidade instalada de energias renováveis. O Renovabio é o maior programa de descarbonização da matriz de transporte do mundo, disse ele, citando o diretor executivo da Agência Internacional de Energia (IEA, na sigla em inglês), Fatih Birol.

Participantes da indústria na Índia, que planeja dobrar a mistura de etanol para 20pc até 2025, e do Japão, que tem metas para a produção de SAF, incluindo pela rota alcohol-to-jet, abordaram a associação recentemente sobre o Renovabio.

Um dos aspectos mais valiosos do programa é como ele mapeia a eficiência de cada usina — medida por sua pontuação de intensidade de carbono — para determinar a quantidade de produção de etanol que resultará na emissão de um Cbio, na visão da Unica.

Enquanto isso, Iniciativas semelhantes na UE e nos EUA utilizam benchmarks. "É por isso que o Brasil está sendo copiado hoje, servindo de inspiração", disse Gussi.

A gama de iniciativas de energia limpa ou eliminação progressiva de fontes fósseis – como o Combustível do Futuro e o programa Mover – está interligada ao Renovabio, o que torna as distribuidoras inadimplentes ainda mais fora de compasso com os tempos atuais, disse ele.

"Mas esse é comportamento fossilizado que não vai durar", disse Gussi. "E o Renovabio, como política, como racionalidade econômica ambiental, ele vai ficar."


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25/06/12

Brazil backs R32mn to counter wildfires in Amazon

Brazil backs R32mn to counter wildfires in Amazon

Sao Paulo, 12 June (Argus) — Brazil opened a public call to finance R32mn ($5.7mn) to combat wildfires in the Amazon rainforest and in the central-western Pantanal biome. The resources come from Brazilian environment ministry's FNMA fund and the federal collective rights' fund FDD, which is under the justice and public security ministry's umbrella. Projects submitted must be between R800,000-1mn and must be finished in up to two years, according to the government. Projects regarding machinery, equipment and fire-adapted light vehicle acquisitions are eligible. The investment does not comprise construction projects. The initiative aims to counter environmental damages from wildfires. Brazil is working to eliminate deforestation — both legal and illegal — by 2030, in an effort to meet its emissions reductions targets under the Paris climate agreement. Deforestation is one of Brazil's flagship issues for the UN Cop 30 summit , which it will host in northern Para state in November this year. The Amazon biome lost over 774,000ha to wildfires in the first quarter, a 72pc drop from a year earlier, while it accounted for almost 52pc of burnt areas in March. Burnt areas in the Pantanal biome, or tropical wetland, fell by 86pc in the first quarter to 10,900 hectares. By Maria Frazatto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Ultracargo expande linhas férreas para combustíveis


25/06/12
25/06/12

Ultracargo expande linhas férreas para combustíveis

Sao Paulo, 12 June (Argus) — A empresa de logística Ultracargo finalizou a construção de um desvio ferroviário conectando o terminal de etanol de Paulínia, em São Paulo, com seu terminal em Rondonópolis, em Mato Grosso, para facilitar o transporte de etanol de milho e derivados de petróleo do Centro-Oeste para o Sudeste. A operação, que poderá funcionar com até 80 vagões, terá capacidade para transportar 180.000m³ de combustíveis por viagem e movimentar até 3 milhões de m³/ ano de etanol e 3 milhões de m³/ano de derivados de petróleo. O desvio liga o maior terminal independente de etanol do país com Mato Grosso, o maior produtor de etanol de milho do Brasil, através de 4,4km de linhas ferroviárias. A empresa investiu cerca de R$200 milhões para construir o projeto, que está conectado à malha ferroviária da empresa de logística Rumo, que também finalizou recentemente os trabalhos para aumentar sua capacidade de movimentação até o porto de Santos, em São Paulo. A Ultracargo informou que a utilização de trens em vez de caminhões para longas distâncias também reduzirá a emissão de gases de efeito estufa em 35pc – cerca de 51.000 toneladas de CO2 equivalente. A empresa também planeja entregar outros trechos de linhas ferroviárias e expandir a capacidade de armazenagem no terminal de Rondonópolis, assim como inaugurar o terminal de Palmeirante, em Tocantins, para melhorar o transporte de combustíveis no Arco Norte até o fim de 2025. Esses corredores logísticos ajudarão a diminuir os gargalos, custos e impactos ambientais, disse o diretor da Ultracargo Fulvius Tomelin. Por Maria Albuquerque Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.

Ireland keeps double counting for Pome biofuels


25/06/12
25/06/12

Ireland keeps double counting for Pome biofuels

London, 12 June (Argus) — The Irish transport ministry has signed an amended regulation that will continue to allow for biofuels made from palm oil mill effluent (Pome) oil to be counted twice towards domestic mandates, but prevent the granting of additional renewable fuel certificates to biofuels made from the waste feedstock from 1 July. Irish biofuels legislation allows for two renewable fuel certificates to be generated per megajoule for fuels made from feedstocks listed in Annex IX of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED), which includes Pome oil. This is known as double counting. A second piece of legislation, the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 (Additional Certificates for Renewable Transport Fuel) Regulations, allows for extra certificates to be generated for fuels from Annex IX feedstocks on top of double counting. The amended regulation will prevent the additional generation of 0.5 certificates per megajoule of hydrotreated vegetable oil, 0.4 certificates per megajoule of fuel supplied into the aviation sector and 0.4 certificates for megajoule of fuel supplied into the marine sector, if produced from Pome oil. Biofuels produced from other feedstocks listed in Annex IX will still be eligible for this. The National Oil Reserves Agency, which administers Ireland's biofuels mandate, reviewed Pome oil consumption data last year and recommended excluding Pome oil-based fuels from double counting, along with an exclusion from additional certificate generation. It also suggested implementing a Pome oil cap for the mandate, but acknowledged administrative barriers. Ireland was one of four member states that last year approached the European Commission to ask for its support in the analysis of Pome oil-based biofuel usage. The commission responded by saying it would be launching a working group with member states on sustainability and fraud in the lead-up to states transposing the recast RED III. By Simone Burgin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU ethanol market monitors possible reclassification


25/06/12
25/06/12

EU ethanol market monitors possible reclassification

London, 12 June (Argus) — The European ethanol market awaits the final verdict of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the registry of classification and labelling (CLH), on the potential classification of ethanol as a carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction (CMR) substance. The decision is expected in the second half of this year. The classification would ban the use of ethanol in certain cosmetic applications. Some market participants said that it could mean that additional protective measures would be required when handling fuel grade ethanol, such as operators having to wear protective clothing and monitoring their exposure more closely. European renewable ethanol association ePure said that the decision "would have many undesirable and disproportionate effects in multiple sectors and industries". Greek authorities submitted a proposal to the ECHA asking it to classify ethanol as a CMR substance back in July 2020. This classification would suggest potential toxicity based on limited evidence from human or animal studies. The dossier submitted by the Greek authorities argues that ethanol causes developmental harm, in regard to prenatal alcohol exposure, and potential effects via breastmilk. Supporting data all derives from hazards caused by oral consumption. Industrial-grade ethanol, often referred to as denatured alcohol, serves as a key ingredient in a wide range of products, including cosmetics, disinfectants, pharmaceuticals and paints. Consumption of the grade increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many manufactures turned to ethanol to tackle disinfectant supply shortages. In contrast, fuel-grade ethanol, typically referred to as undenatured ethanol, must meet EN (European Standard) specifications and adhere to sustainability standards set by certification bodies like the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) before being blended into gasoline. According to ePURE data, 6.4bn l of ethanol was produced in Europe in 2023, with 5.5bn l or just under 86pc being for fuel, while only 7.6pc was for industrial use and 6.5pc for beverages. In an open letter sent to the European Commission on 8 November 2024, the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (AISE) requested for an "urgent intervention" on this potential reclassification. In the letter they said that this would impact both the general public and professional users, like in hospitals, where they said there is "no suitable alternative" to ethanol-based sanitisers. Some have suggested that ethanol producers impacted by the ban might turn to the fuel ethanol market. But, the increased supply this re-classification could bring to the fuel market, depends on whether producers have or could obtain ISCC or equivalent accreditation. By Toby Shay and Evelina Lungu Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EPA readies new biofuel blend mandate proposal


25/06/12
25/06/12

EPA readies new biofuel blend mandate proposal

New York, 12 June (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration is close to releasing two regulations informing oil refiners how much biofuel they must blend into the conventional fuel supply. The two rules — proposed biofuel blend mandates for at least 2026 and most likely for 2027 as well as a separate final rule cutting cellulosic fuel mandates for last year — exited White House review on Wednesday, the last step before major regulations can be released. Previously scheduled meetings as part of the process appear to have been cancelled, another signal that the rules' release is imminent. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it wants to get the frequently delayed Renewable Fuel Standard program back on its statutory timeline, which would require volumes for 2027 to be finalized before November this year. Any proposal will have to go through the typical public comment process and could be changed. A coalition of biofuel-producing groups and feedstock suppliers, including the American Petroleum Institute, has pushed EPA to set a biomass-based diesel mandate of 5.25bn USG for 2026, hoping that a record-high target will support biorefineries that have struggled this year. Many plants have idled or run less recently, as uncertainty about future blend mandates, the halting rollout of a new clean fuel tax credit, and tariffs that up feedstock costs all hurt margins. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin also told a House subcommittee last month the agency wanted "to get caught up as quickly as we can" on a backlog of small refiner requests for program exemptions. Courts took issue with EPA's exemption policy during Trump's first term and again during President Joe Biden's tenure, leaving officials now with dozens of waiver requests covering multiple compliance years still pending. It is unclear whether the rule will provide clarity on EPA's plans for program waivers — including whether the agency will up obligations on other parties to make up for exempt small refiners — but biofuel groups have worried that widespread exemptions would curb demand for their products. The price of Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits used for program compliance have been volatile this year on rumors about these exemptions, which EPA has called market manipulation. RIN trading picked up and prices rose on the news as Thursday's session began. Bids and offers for 2025 ethanol D6 RINs, the most prevalent type currently trading, began the day at 96¢/RIN and 98¢/RIN, respectively. Deals were struck shortly after at 98¢/RIN and 99¢/RIN, with seller interest at one point reaching 100¢/RIN — well above a 95.5¢/RIN settle on Wednesday. Biomass-based diesel D4 RINs with concurrent vintage followed the same path with sellers holding ground as high as 107¢/RIN. By Cole Martin and Matthew Cope Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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