JBS Biodiesel expands operations with new biofuel plant in Santa Catarina

JBS Biodiesel is expanding its operations with a new biodiesel plant at Mafra, the State of Santa Catarina. With an investment of R$ 180 million, the new plant has doubled the biofuel production capacity of the company, a unit of JBS Novos Negócios. The new investment reinforces the circular economy concept of JBS and reflects the commitment to become Net Zero in 2040.

The new plant, the third in operation of JBS Biodiesel, covers a total area of ​​76,000 square meters and has an annual production of approximately 370 million liters. With the new plant coming online, the total biodiesel production capacity of JBS has leapt from 350 million to around 720 million liters a year, accounting for just over 10% of the volume of 6.76 billion liters of biofuel produced in 2021, according to data from the Brazilian Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP).

 “Biofuels play a key role in the Brazilian energy matrix, and biodiesel has huge growth potential here. With this new investment we are emphasizing the importance of the circular economy for our businesses while adding value to the waste from our operations, thereby contributing to sustainable development”, asserts Alexandre Pereira, Sales Director of JBS Biodiesel. 

The city of Mafra was chosen for its easy access to rail and road modals, the proximity of the Presidente Getúlio Vargas Refinery (Repar), one of Brazil’s leading diesel mixing and distribution units, as well as rapid access to the port of Paranaguá, in Paraná, Brazil’s third largest port. The plats operations will create 400 direct and indirect jobs, benefitting the economy of the Western region of Santa Catarina. 

To produce biodiesel at Mafra, JBS Biodiesel will use the raw materials recycled cooking oil and soybean oil originating from grain crushing to produce meal that feeds poultry and pigs. This enables the company to strengthen the diversity of its sources of raw materials, since it is currently the world’s largest verticalized producer of biodiesel from bovine tallow.

The choice by JBS Biodiesel to expand its presence in the biodiesel market is in line with the JBS commitment to Net Zero whose target is to zero the balance of its value chain-related emissions by 2040. In addition to Mafra, the company has a biofuel unit at Lins (SP) and another plant at Campo Verde (MT).