Brazil's senate should make inclusion of a particular type of diesel made by state-controlled Petrobras a key issue in its deliberations over the fuel of the future bill, according to Sergio Araujo, president of fuel importers' association Abicom.
The Brazilian lower house approved the renewable fuel package on 13 March, opening the way for the senate vote on it before sending it to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Amid other measures, the project proposes launching a national renewable diesel national. The energy policy council CNPE would define the blend mandate on the fossil fuel, with a 3pc floor, by 2037.
But state-controlled Petrobras's co-processed diesel, referred to commonly as R diesel, was left out the bill. R diesel is made by co-processing petroleum diesel with vegetable oil, which contains a portion of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which can vary from 5-10pc. A 5pc blend is called R5 diesel and a 10pc blend R10 diesel.
"The co-processed diesel reduces CO2 emissions and its percentage should be considered when we talk about mandatory blending," Araujo said. "I believe this will be the main point to be discussed at the senate."
In October Brazilian fuel retailer Ipiranga also started to sell fuel with 5pc co-processed diesel, in addition to the mandatory biodiesel blend.
