Alan Kardec and Graças Foster speak about the inauguration of the Candeias plant

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The appointed president of Petrobras Biocombustível, Alan Kardec, and Petrobras’ director for Gas & Energy, Maria das Graças Foster participated, this Monday (07/28), in a press conference in Salvador, Bahia. The theme was Petrobras’ first biodiesel plant, which will be inaugurated this Tuesday (07/29). "Petrobras’ cradle was Bahia. This is where we were born and it is a happy coincidence this is where the story of Petrobras Biocombustível will start too," said Alan Kardec.

According to the executive, the company was created to drive the integration of the several areas of the company that are involved in the biofuel theme. To him, two issues are fundamental in the appearance of this new company. "The first is the environmental issue. Our direct contribution to reducing global warming. Another one is the corporate aspect. There will be an ongoing increase in the global demand for biodiesel. We are an energy company, and it is our obligation to seize the opportunity we have here. Few countries in the world have as many favorable conditions as Brazil. Land, water, sun, people, technology. This is all essential to be successful in the segment. Not to mention the social fund we are going to develop based on family farming,” said Kardec.

Petrobras’ director for Gas & Energy, Maria das Graças Foster, rated the work done with family farming as one of the most complex and best in the social area. "Petrobras’ policy is to have the most we can of our supply base coming from family farmers. That is why we are developing a series of projects to boost these small producers’ muscle power, their supply capacity. And this is not just because we are a company that is committed to the social area. The economic viability of biofuel-producing plants also depends on family agriculture. Strengthening these small suppliers is fundamental for us to control input price volatility in the market. It is more complicated to control it when it is concentrated on intensive agriculture," said Graça.

To Alan Kardec, the new company’s success must necessarily go through the fields. "There are immense challenges, but our partners are great too. Beginning with president Lula, who is a biodiesel enthusiast," mentioned the executive. The Gas & Energy director highlighted the excellent location of the Candeias plant. "It is in one of the best possible locations, near the consumer market, near the Transpetro terminal in Salvador, close to a grain crushing unit, in addition to being relatively close to the family farmers themselves," listed Graça.

To Alan Kardec, Candeias is the first step taken in an irreversible trend. "Our goal for 2012 is to produce 940 million liters of diesel per year. We will start tomorrow with Candeias, which will put 57 million liters of biodiesel in the market per year," said the appointed president. In August, it will be Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, and Quixadá, in Ceará. Together, the three plants will generate income and work for 55,000 family farmers who have been hired to supply input. In four years, Petrobras intends to invest $1.5 billion in the segment. The company’s objective is to lead the domestic biodiesel production and to boost its participation in the Ethanol business, concentrating its efforts on the international market.