The country has made progress in the use of biofuels to mix with gasoline and diesel. It is a policy that allows ethanol and biodiesel to be added to traditional fossil fuel to achieve less polluting blends. The blends are currently 10% biodiesel for diesel (or Acpm) and 6% ethanol for gasoline.
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According to Fedebiocombustibles, during the first semester, demand for both grew compared to the same period in 2021being 12.5% the rise for biodiesel and 8.9% for bioethanol.
As for the value of sectoral sales, these have had a much higher growth than the volume. In the first semester, these reached $3 billion.
According to Jorge Bendeck, president of the union, this result was achieved as a result of the comparative base effect, compared to the national strike that the country experienced during April and May 2021.
In this regard, the union leader pointed out that this has not led to the need to increase the areas planted with sugarcane or oil palm.
“With the current production of raw materials, it is possible to meet the current mandates for biofuel blends,” Jorge Bendeck explained to Portfolio.
There are currently 8 plants producing biodiesel and another 7 that generate bioethanol. The president pointed out that although there are some that are not operational, they do not represent a supply risk considering the current levels of demand.
In fact, they expect its growth rate to remain above 3% for the rest of the year, taking into account this base scenario.
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Bendeck added that at the moment the expansion plans of the companies in the sector are awaiting “guidelines from the National Government on its vision in terms of mixture mandates, price regulation, contracts and information systems.” With clarity in these issues there could be a greater investment.
Until now, the resources allocated by the sector exceed US$3,000 million and according to the president of Fedebiocombustibles, if progress is made with a roadmap to promote sustainable fuels for aviation, this figure could easily double. (See back cover).
“What is being viewed with great interest by investors are the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) included in the climate action law and the Energy Transition Conpes,” said Bendeck.
production estimates
Jorge Bendeck, president of the biofuels producers union, explained that by the end of the year they expect to achieve 700,000 tons of biodiesel produced and 365 million liters of ethanol. Cut to June, production was 185 million ethanol and 336 tons of biodiesel.
“That would allow us to achieve a reduction of 3 million tons of CO2 emitted into the environment,” he said.
The president did not specify whether new plants would enter in the second half of the year or whether those that are not currently producing would resume operations to supply the local market.
DANIELA MORALES SOLER
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