Brazil’s biodiesel blend to increase to 8% next year

President Dilma Rousseff signed into law last week a bill that will allow the percentage of  biodiesel blended in petroleum diesel to increase to 8%, from the current 7%, in 2017.

The law aims to boost domestic production of biodiesel, reduce Brazilian imports of petroleum diesel, and encourage farming and agriculture.

Under the 613/2015 law, the mandatory blend maybe gradually increased to 9% by 2018 and 10% by 2019.

The law also permits the National Council for Energy Policies (CNPE) to increase the biodiesel blend to 15%, after testing is completed successfully by CNPE.