Sumitomo Corporation do Brasil, Cemvita partner to integrate biomethane, bio-oil production
- Sumitomo Corporation do Brasil
- 16 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Sumitomo Corporation do Brasil and Cemvita Inc. announced March 18 the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on integrated biomethane (renewable natural gas, or RNG) and renewable bio-oil (FermOil™) projects in Brazil.
The partnership is focused on accelerating the deployment of low-carbon, waste-based fuels and strengthening Brazil’s position as a global hub for the circular bioeconomy.
Under the MOU, the companies will jointly evaluate the integration of Cemvita’s renewable bio-oil technology with RNG production at an initial facility in Brazil.
The collaboration will assess approximately five waste and byproduct feedstocks for their suitability to produce both RNG and renewable bio-oil, with the goal of maximizing carbon efficiency, operational synergies and project economics.
The parties will also explore opportunities to scale this integrated model across additional facilities and projects identified by both organizations.
“This partnership reflects how we think about the future of bioenergy, not as single-product projects, but as integrated systems,” said Cemvita CEO Moji Karimi. “By combining Cemvita’s biotechnology platform with Sumitomo’s global infrastructure capabilities and market access, we can unlock higher-value, lower-carbon outcomes from waste streams and accelerate commercialization in Brazil.”
Takamasa Ueda, the senior director of Sumitomo Corporation do Brasil, added, “RNG is one of the strategic commodities Sumitomo is focused on globally, and we see Brazil as a critical location for long-term biofuel supply. Integrating Cemvita’s bio-oil technology with RNG projects creates strong operational and economic synergies. It allows us to increase the supply of waste-based bio-oil for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) while producing RNG in parallel. This kind of integrated approach is essential to overcoming the complexity of biofuel projects and scaling them responsibly.”
João Simões, the director of Sumitomo Corporation do Brasil’s energy-innovation initiative, said, “As an agribusiness powerhouse, Brazil is one of the largest generators of agrifood residues and side streams globally, which if not properly harnessed, can result in environmental damage and increased disposal costs. By integrating the production of bio-oil, a precursor of SAF, and RNG under the same biorefinery, we’ll be able to improve the economics of both products, resulting in benefits for both residue generators and SAF/RNG consumers.”
The partnership will be governed by a joint steering committee responsible for oversight, milestone tracking and risk management.
Key outputs will include a commercial and technical roadmap targeting 2026 execution, and a final integrated-assessment report.
