Brazil to increase biodiesel blend in regular fuel

Ricardo Dornelles, Biofuels Department head at Brazil's energy ministry said Tuesday the government wants to increase the biodiesel share in mineral diesel in line with the country's greenhouse gas reduction targets.

The announcement was made during the International Biodiesel Conference in Sao Paulo. It is part of Brazil's proposals to be presented at the COP 21 climate change conference in Paris. The director said the Ministry of the Environment is now working to determine what the new blending requirement would be.

Aside from the biodiesel blend increase, the document of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to the United Nations with Brazil's proposal for the COP 21 also establishes the increased use of bioenergy sources such as second-generation ethanol for vehicles, and biomass to generate electricity.

According to Dornelles the benefits of biodiesel use are not only limited to the added value for the production chain of biofuels, but will also result in savings related to the treatment of diseases caused by air pollution, a result from the use of fossil fuels.

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