Petrobras delivers first coprocessed SAF volumes, advances 2026-30 clean fuels strategy

Petrobras has delivered its first volumes of sustainable aviation fuel produced in Brazil through coprocessing, marking a significant step in the state-controlled company's plan to scale low-carbon fuels ahead of new domestic and international mandates.

The 3,000 cubic meter batch, equivalent to roughly one day's jet fuel consumption across airports in Rio de Janeiro state, was supplied to distributors operating at Tom Jobim International Airport (Galeão).

Petrobras is the first Brazilian producer to receive ICAO ISCC-CORSIA sustainability certification for coprocessed SAF.

Petrobras' SAF is produced by coprocessing vegetable oils such as technical corn oil or soybean oil with conventional aviation kerosene. While the renewable fraction currently accounts for up to 1.2% under ANP authorization, lifecycle CO2 reductions can reach as high as 87%, the company said on Dec. 5 in a statement.

The initial volumes were produced at the Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc), the first Petrobras unit certified to produce and market SAF.

The delivery validates the "fast-track" coprocessing leg of the company's strategy, serving as an immediate bridge while it develops the dedicated biorefining capacity outlined in its 2026-2030 Business Plan.

Operationalizing the 'R5' Strategy While Petrobras' recently unveiled $1.5 billion biorefining investment targets 44,000 b/d of capacity from dedicated units by 2030, this week's delivery stems from its parallel coprocessing initiatives.

The fuel produced at Reduc was manufactured by processing a feedstock mix of mineral kerosene and renewable content—specifically, technical corn oil or soybean oil—directly in existing hydrotreating units.

• Certification: The batch is certified under the ISCC-CORSIA scheme (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), a crucial requirement for international airline compliance starting in 2027.
• Specifications: Reduc is currently authorized by the ANP to incorporate up to 1.2% renewable content.
• Emissions: The renewable portion of the fuel offers a reduction in net CO2 emissions of up to 87% compared to fossil equivalents.

"We are offering the national market the possibility of meeting global demands, anticipating compliance with CORSIA," said Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard. She emphasized that the drop-in nature of the fuel requires no modifications to aircraft or refueling infrastructure.

The commercialization at Reduc is the first step on a broader rollout across Petrobras' refining system. The company confirmed that the Henrique Lage Refinery (Revap) in São José dos Campos has already successfully conducted production tests.

Commercial operations are expected to expand to the Paulínia (Replan) and Gabriel Passos (Regap) refineries in 2026. This gradual ramp-up aligns with the company's projection to deliver up to 1,300 b/d of coprocessed SAF in the near term, separate from the larger volumes expected from the future dedicated BioRefining units at RPBC and GasLub.

Alongside the renewable milestone, Petrobras demonstrated improved efficiency in its core fossil operations. The Alberto Pasqualini Refinery (Refap) in Rio Grande do Sul set a historic monthly production record for S-10 Diesel in November.

Refap produced 274.8 million liters of ultra-low sulfur diesel, a 7% increase over its previous record set in August 2023.

The result underpins Petrobras' strategy to increase the share of high-value, lower-emission S-10 diesel in its total production mix from 40% to 45% by 2030, utilizing modernized assets to meet domestic demand while funding its energy transition projects.

Ethanol spot prices in Brazil were mixed on Dec. 5, extending the week's trend of restrained liquidity and ongoing disconnect between buyer bids and seller offers.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed hydrous ethanol (E100) ex-mill Ribeirão Preto at Real 3,550/cu m, unchanged from the prior session. Anhydrous ethanol was assessed at Real 3,490/cu m, down Real 5. Ribeirão Preto remains the primary inland pricing reference for ethanol in the state of São Paulo.

Hydrous ethanol delivered CIF Paulínia was assessed at Real 3,620/cu m, up Real 40 from the prior session. This price reflects delivery to Paulínia — a central fuel distribution hub in Greater São Paulo — via truck, rail, pipeline or direct tank transfer.