Brazil raises biodiesel mandate to B11

9 August 2019

Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis, ANP) has increased the minimum biodiesel content in commercial diesel fuel from 10 to 11% (B11), effective September 1, 2019. The agency also revised biodiesel specifications to include blends up to 15% (B15).

Last year, the National Council of Energy Policy (Conselho Nacional de Politica Energética, CNPE) authorized ANP to set higher percentages of biodiesel blends [4419]. Under the proposed schedule, B11 was to be mandated sometime after June 1, 2019; B12 starting March 1, 2020; B13 starting March 1, 2021; B14 starting March 1, 2022; and B15 starting March 1, 2023.

The increase of biodiesel blend levels above B10 is based on the technical validation work by a multidisciplinary working group (Grupo de Trabalho para Testes com Biodiesel, GTTB) coordinated by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME). GTTB published its final B15 report this month [4422], recommending an oxidation stability requirement for B15 of 20 h. It was concluded that an oxidation stability of 12h for the biodiesel component (B100) would be sufficient to achieve this.

ANP revised the biodiesel quality specification accordingly [4423], with the 12 h oxidation stability specification becoming effective on September 1, 2019. This also opens the door for immediate sales and future mandates of biodiesel blends up to B15.

Source: ANP