The Riograndense Refinery (RPR) in Rio Grande, Brazil, has become the country’s first plant to produce fuels using eucalyptus-based bio-oil.
As explained, using innovative Petrobras technology, RPR successfully completed a seven-day industrial-scale test (February 10-17) co-processing 5% eucalyptus bio-oil with fossil feedstock in its fresh catalytic cracking (FCC) unit. The bio-oil, certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), was sourced from Vallourec’s forest unit in Minas Gerais and converted into fuel gas, LPG, gasoline components, and marine fuel with renewable content.
The breakthrough technology, developed by Petrobras’ Research, Development, and Innovation Center (CENPES), integrates bio-oil into existing refining infrastructure, eliminating the need for costly new investments.
Petrobras’ Director of Engineering, Technology, and Innovation, Renata Baruzzi, emphasized the global significance of the test, demonstrating the potential to convert widely available agroforestry residues into traditional petroleum derivatives. Meanwhile, Director of Industrial Processes and Products, William França, highlighted the innovation’s role in advancing the energy transition and value generation.
