Brazil refinery to produce bunker fuels from eucalyptus biomass oil
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by Admin
Brazilian state-controlled oil and gas producer Petrobras on Monday (10 March) said the Riograndense Refinery (RPR) successfully completed an industrial scale co-processing test using 5% eucalyptus biomass oil combined with fossil feedstock, to produce various fuels including marine fuels.
The refinery, located in Rio Grande, southern Brazil, which has Petrobras, Ultra and Braskem as shareholder companies, became the first in the country capable of producing fuels with cellulosic content.
Petrobras provided the technology for the co-processing test conducted at RPR’s catalytic cracking unit (FCC), which lasted seven days and was concluded on 17 February.
When co-processed at RPR’s FCC unit, the bio-oil was converted into various fractions such as fuel gas, LPG, and components for gasoline formulation and marine fuel with renewable content.
The bio-oil was supplied by Vallourec – Florestal unit. The bio-oil production is ISCC PLUS-certified and involves the condensation of vapours generated during eucalyptus charcoal production.
“The Riograndense Refinery has the potential to become the world’s first refinery to produce continuously 100% renewable products. It will become a biorefinery dedicated to producing fuels exclusively from renewable materials,” said Petrobras’ CEO, Magda Chambriard.
Photo credit: Petrobras
Published: 17 March, 2025
