PBio pursues objective to produce cellulosic ethanol

Petrobras Biocombustivel (PBio), the biofuels subsidiary of Brazil’s oil and gas giant Petrobras, is currently negotiating with local sugar and ethanol producers Sao Martinho and Acucar Guarani SA for the installation of a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production plant. The company’s head of technology management, Joao Norberto Noschang Neto, said that PBio will select one partner, and plans to begin the technical and economic viability studies for the project by year-end. He affirmed that this is in line with Petrobas’ objective to produce cellulosic ethanol by 2015.
PBio has been undergoing studies on the production of second-generation ethanol since 2004 and has invested some US$20 million in this area. The company has already installed a demonstration unit in the U.S. The Petrobras business plan involves a total investment of US$300 million in biofuels research and development between the period 2012 and 2016. (September 19, 2012)