JBS’s Biopower invests $25.5 million in upgrades to 3 biodiesel plants in Brazil

The Mafra unit recently reached the milestone of 1 billion liters (more than 264 million gallons) of biodiesel produced. (Photo: JBS)

Biopower, a JBS company that produces biodiesel, has just announced in late December an investment of $140 million Brazilian reals (USD$25.5 million) in modernization and technological innovation of its three biodiesel plants in Brazil located in Lins, Campo Verde and Mafra.

The investment, the most significant since the construction of the Mafra unit in 2021, prepares the company for a new cycle of growth and reinforces its strategic role in the national energy transition, the company stated.

With this innovation, Biopower projects its production to reach a record volume of more than 650 million liters (171.7 million gallons) in 2025.

Among the investments is the implementation of enzymatic esterification technology, a modern process that replaces chemical catalysts with high-efficiency enzymes.

This “cleaner and more precise approach,” according to Biopower, will allow for increased productivity, greater flexibility in the use of diverse raw materials, such as bovine tallow and used cooking oil, as well as the conversion of byproducts, which were previously sold separately, into more biodiesel.

The project has begun in 2025 and is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

“We are investing to further improve a product that already has a reputation for excellence in the market and to remain at the forefront of a rapidly expanding sector,” said Alexandre Pereira, director of Biopower. “This modernization will give us greater efficiency and production flexibility, guaranteeing our competitiveness to meet a demand for biodiesel that will certainly continue to grow.”

The announcement comes at a special time for the operation, as the Mafra unit recently reached the milestone of 1 billion liters (264.17 million gallons) of biodiesel produced.

The increase in demand for biodiesel, driven by current legislation that foresees raising the blend to 20 percent (B20) by 2030, comes at a time of historical growth for biofuels in Brazil.

Currently, the blend is at 15 percent.

It is in this expansion scenario that Biopower’s investment is positioned, preparing the company to capture new opportunities and contribute to the country’s goal of consolidating itself as a power in clean energy.

In 18 years of operation, the company has already produced more than 4 billion liters (1.06 billion gallons) of biodiesel, avoiding the emission of approximately 9 million tons of CO2.

Biopower is also advancing on new fronts that contribute to the decarbonization of maritime transport.

The definition of global targets by the International Maritime Organization, which seeks to achieve net-zero emissions in the sector by 2050, opens space for sustainable fuels, and the company said it is prepared to meet this demand.

Biodiesel presents itself as a viable and immediate alternative to traditional marine diesel and can be used without the need for adaptation in vessels and with the same performance and competitive cost compared to other technologies.

In addition, Biopower has international certification and traceability, such as the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification seal, a requirement for the European market, and the U.S. EPA certification, according to the company.

“As the world accelerates the transition to a cleaner energy matrix, we want to be a benchmark in real and accessible solutions,” Pereira said. “In addition to the increase in the blend to B20 in the coming years, the naval decarbonization market emerges as a strategic front that inspires us to continue innovating and expanding our role in building a more sustainable future.”

JBS said Biopower is an example of the circular-economic model applied in its businesses—extracting value from what was considered waste.

Today, about 99 percent of each bovine processed by the company is utilized.

In poultry and swine, this percentage is almost 95 percent.

“This fuels a virtuous cycle that combines the reuse of raw materials, job creation and the reduction of logistical and environmental impacts,” the company stated.

The operation also strengthens the regional economy, with 24-hour operations and approximately 300 direct employees across the company’s three units.

According to the director of Biopower, technology is essential, but it gains even more strength when combined with the talent and dedication of the people who make the company happen.

“Technology is a tool, but innovation is born from people,” Pereira said. “We have a team that not only operates, but also creates, improves and overcomes challenges. It was this expertise that allowed us, for example, to be pioneers in the use of different types of raw materials. This knowledge represents our most valuable asset and sets us apart from the competition.”

At more than 900 million liters (237.75 million gallons) of annual capacity, Biopower boasts the fifth-largest biodiesel production capacity in Brazil.