Petrobras, Vibra to test coprocessed renewable diesel mixed with biodiesel in 3 buses

Brazil’s state-owned petroleum company Petrobras and its former subsidiary Vibra Energia, the largest petroleum distributor and marketer in Brazil, will begin testing coprocessed renewable diesel in three buses operated by Auto Viação Redentor in Curitiba, Paraná, for six months beginning in January.

According to Petrobras, which made the announcement Dec. 28, the coprocessed renewable diesel is produced at the Getúlio Vargas Refinery (Repar). The renewable content of the coprocessed fuel is 5 percent. Once made, Vibra will add an additional 10 percent biodiesel per Brazilian law bringing the biobased content of the finished fuel to 15 percent.

During the six-month period, nearly 32,000 gallons of fuel will be supplied to the city’s buses, with the objective of evaluating in real-world conditions the effect of coprocessed renewable diesel on emissions, performance and maintenance.