PETROBRAS' programme for expanding activities in the biofuels area has the key strategictarget of leading the Brazilian production and retail market. The planned PETROBRAS'production until 2012 is 860,000 m3 biodiesel/year, associated to 10-12% of glycerin, byproductof the reaction.Within this context, a large growth in the offer of glycerin is expected, accompanied by amarket price decrease, therefore creating a challenge, as well as business opportunities, fornew uses of glycerin.PETROBRAS is pursuing two lines of action for glycerin: short term and medium/long term. Inthe first case, the aim is to give a quick environmentally adequate destination to the glycerin,such as produced with the biodiesel, without any further treatment. Among these are includedcombustion in cement factories, blending with animal food, dust collector in mining industries,etc. The second case focuses the development of technologies that include chemicaltransformation, adding value to the glycerin and producing financial gains. Under this line ofmedium term initiatives, emphasis is being given to applications inside the fossil fuelsproduction chain of PETROBRAS, such as fluids for E&P, additives for fuels and lubricants,etc.By these means, the competitive advantage of PETROBRAS as a producer of both fossil andrenewable fuels is enhanced. Furthermore, as a result of this synergy, the association withPETROBRAS' leadership of fossil fuels in Brazil will provide quick market expansion andpenetration to biofuels and glycerin derived products.
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