Petrobras's Transpetro launches 1st stretch of giant ethanol pipeline

Aug 13, 2013 - Transpetro, the fuel distribution arm of Brazilian oil and gas major Petrobras (SAO:PETR3), yesterday launched the first stretch, of 206 km (128 miles), of its giant 1,300-km ethanol distribution system.
The stretch, from Ribeirao Preto to Paulinia, will transport ethanol to Petrobras' refinery Replan, in Paulinia, southeastern Sao Paulo state.
It is part of a BRL-7-billion (USD 3.079bn/EUR 2.314bn) ethanol distribution system to be developed under Brazil's government's growth acceleration programme PAC and which includes also 700 km of hydroways and 15 distribution terminals. The project will have capacity to transport 20 million cu m (706.2m cu ft) per year and to store 1.2 million cu m.
During the inauguration ceremony yesterday, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said the system is of key importance for the country's economic growth.
When ready, the giant pipeline will pass through 45 municipalities in the states of Goias, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Sao Paulo, ending in Paulinia, from where the ethanol will be directed to the country's largest ethanol consuming hubs Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and also to Santos port for exports.
(BRL 1 = USD 0.440/EUR 0.331)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!