Palm oil, known as dende oil, has been used as a raw material to develop second-generation biofuels more efficiently. This is according to Milton Stegall, CEO of Grupo BBF (Brazil Biofuels).
Subscribe to BNews channel on WhatsApp
The executive says that, despite Brazil’s small share in palm oil production, the country has the potential to become a reference in sustainable palm cultivation and the production of second-generation biofuels, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and green diesel. Has the capacity.
“Brazil still has timid participation in the palm market. But palm has many qualities. One of the most relevant from a socio-economic point of view is that its cultivation cannot be mechanized, which generates thousands of jobs and income for the population of the places where it is located. The BBF Group alone creates over 6,000 direct jobs and 18,000 indirect jobs across five northern states”, Steagall said.
“Another important point is that it has a comprehensive production chain, from seed planting to cultural treatments, the operation of industries focused on harvesting and oil extraction, a plant for biodiesel production and an unprecedented biorefinery for the development of SAF and green diesel. He said, he also drew attention to the fact that the palm production chain can be carried out in which no forest trees are cut down.
“The potential of palm oil for biofuel production in the Amazon is enormous, given that we have a true ‘green pre-salt’ in the region, with more than 31 million hectares of land dedicated to the sustainable cultivation of palm oil. Is appropriate”, explains. CEO of BBF Group.
Palm cultivation follows the law defined by the federal government in Decree 7,172/2010, defined in May 2010, which defines that palm cultivation can only be carried out in areas that were humanized in the Amazon region until December 2007.
“Currently, Brazil has less than 2% of the world palm market, cultivating the plant on an area of less than 300 thousand hectares. There is still great potential for development without cutting down any forest trees, on the contrary, reforesting areas that have already been destroyed, creating employment and income for the population. And thus, develop biofuels and generate clean energy for the residents living there”, he commented.
In addition to its positive impact on the economy and the environment, palm oil is known for its chemical range – similar to that of fossil fuels – and high production efficiency. Palm produces 10 times more oil per hectare than soybean, another raw material used to produce biofuels. It is estimated that 20 billion liters of SAF per year will be required to meet global needs by 2030.
“This is an ambitious target for a sector that needs to decarbonise quickly. On the other hand, the world is still facing shortage of raw materials for the production of advanced biofuels. In the medium and long-term horizon, Brazilian palm ‘is’ and ‘will remain’ the most efficient crop for the decarbonization of the palm oil sector, argues the executive.