Palm | Kelapa Sawit

Petrobras has confirmed that despite a lack of castor oil, it still plans to expand Biodiesel Quixada in Ceara state by 40%, the Dairio de Nordeste reports. The plant is currently using soy and cotton oil.

This week, the president of Petrobras Biofuels signed contracts with six cooperatives in Ceara and Piaui states to offer technical guidance on castor growing to 31,450 small farmers in the region.

Petrobras expects Brazil’s bio-diesel output to rise from 1.2 billion litres to 1.6 billion before the B4 mandate comes into effect. Gazeta Mercantil adds that the company will also help the farmers with storage and transportation, and will ensure the purchase for a five-year period of their crops for prices previously set with the cooperatives. (May 21, 2009)

Petrobras aims to be a global player in bio-fuels, in which it plans to invest $3.3 billion between 2009 and 2013, said the Petrobras Biocombustíveis director, AE Brazil- Financial and Corporate News reports. Of that total, 80% will be invested in ethanol.

According to him, Petrobras is getting ready for "a world without oil" and the company aims to be among the top-five global bio-fuel leaders by the end of 2020.

He also said Petrobras has been in talks for a bio-diesel production project in Africa and noted the company has ethanol projects under development in some Latin American countries. "Petrobras' strategy is to be a global player, with a relevant role in the world markets for bio-diesel and ethanol," said the executive. (19 May 2009)