Petrobras markets 1st batch of SAF produced from Bunge’s certified low-ILUC soybean oil

Photo: Petrobras

Petrobras announced in June that it recently concluded the production and commercialization of the first batch of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from soybean oil with low-risk indirect land-use change (ILUC) CORSIA certification, which attests to sustainability criteria and lower risk of impact on new areas.

The more than a million gallons sold was obtained by coprocessing at the Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with 1 percent renewable content in the composition.

This percentage is in line with the initial obligations established by Brazil’s Future Fuel Law to reduce emissions from domestic aviation.

To produce the batch, Petrobras acquired low-ILUC-risk soybean oil from Bunge certified by the International Civil Aviation Organization’s CORSIA program for limiting greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from aviation.

This, according to Petrobras, is the first soybean SAF in the world with CORSIA international certification of low-ILUC-risk, guaranteeing that the raw material does not come from deforestation, nor is it indirectly encouraging it.

The batch produced by Petrobras was sold to Vibra, expanding the supply of fuels with renewable content to the aviation market.

With this new campaign, Petrobras said it adds a new certified raw material for the production of SAF, guaranteeing flexibility for the production process and maintaining the company’s commitment to the search for sustainable raw materials that allow the significant reduction of GHG emissions.

“The commercialization of the world’s first SAF with ILUC low-risk-certified soybeans demonstrates Petrobras’ commitment to sustainability, the energy transition and the development of products aligned with the demands of the market and society,” said Angélica Laureano, the director of logistics, commercialization and markets at Petrobras. “More than that, it also reflects our firm purpose of encouraging the production chain of our suppliers to adopt verifiable sustainable practices.”

By adopting international parameters for the production of SAF and stimulating the competitiveness of sustainable raw materials, Petrobras said it contributes to strengthening the production chain.

Coprocessing, such as that used at Reduc, allows the integration of renewable raw materials into the existing refining infrastructure, expanding Petrobras’ capacity to develop and offer lower carbon-intensity fuels to the market.