Notícias
01/03/2008
Comanche expands biodiesel in Bahia
BRUNO VILLAS BÔAS
For JORNAL DO COMMERCIO
Comanche Clean Energy will earmark US$ 14 million to expanding the production capacity of its biodiesel plant in Simões Filho in the state of Bahia and to increasing areas for planting crops in inland Bahia. The unit was acquired at the beginning of 2007, along with two other alcohol production plants in the heart of São Paulo, in a total investment of US$ 150 million.
According to João Pesciotto, Vice President of New Business of the Comanche group, around US$ 4 million will be used to install a reactor unit at the plant, increasing production capacity from 50 million to 100 million liters of biodiesel per year. The rest of the investment will be used to purchase areas for planting raw materials.
The investments were announced yesterday, the same day that it became mandatory for all diesel in Brazil to be 2% biodiesel.
The use of the mixture means a demand of 840 million liters of biodiesel per year, an amount which is less than the capacity of Brazilian producers: 2.5 billion liters. The new standard has opened up opportunities for Comanche’s Simões Filho plant:
“Our plant is strategically located, with good transport logistics. In addition, there is diversity of raw materials, coming from agribusiness as much as from family farmers. And finally, there are areas in the state with a lot of potential for growing new cultures,” said the executive.
The main materials used by the company are vegetable oils from cotton, soy, and sunflower, bovine fats, and used cooking oil. According to Comanche, family farming represents 50% of the sources for materials used in the production of biodiesel at Simões Filho. There are 2.2 thousand families, from various areas of inland Bahia, who sell their raw materials to the company.
“The family farmer is our chief partner. These small properties offer up great potential for oilseed production, such as the castor seed, for example,” Pesciotto explained, recalling that the investments of US$ 10 million to increase planting area will also go towards incentives for family farm activity in Bahia.
Investment fund. Comanche, which is run by an American equity investment fund, commercializes production for the domestic and foreign markets. In November of this year, the Simões Filho plant sold 20 million liters at a biodiesel auction at ANP, the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels, for a total of R$ 38 million.
The company’s bid is not, however, limited to the plants acquired at the beginning of last year. Comanche recently announced that it intends to invest US$ 300 million in the construction of an ethanol plant and a biodiesel plant in the Balsas region, a grain-producing area of Maranhão state. Maranhão has been chosen due to its logistics advantages.
According to the group board member, Delmo Vilhena, installation of the plant depends on administrative details, like licenses. Comanche wants to build a plant with capacity of 4 million tons of sugarcane per harvest, with production of 300 million liters per harvest during its final stage.
He does not disregard acquisitions of other plants on the market, despite affirming that the company will first look to consolidating the units already purchased and carrying out its Maranhão project.
“We will analyze any opportunities that come up,” said Vilhena, one of the company's seven board members, five of which are foreigners.
For JORNAL DO COMMERCIO
Comanche Clean Energy will earmark US$ 14 million to expanding the production capacity of its biodiesel plant in Simões Filho in the state of Bahia and to increasing areas for planting crops in inland Bahia. The unit was acquired at the beginning of 2007, along with two other alcohol production plants in the heart of São Paulo, in a total investment of US$ 150 million.
According to João Pesciotto, Vice President of New Business of the Comanche group, around US$ 4 million will be used to install a reactor unit at the plant, increasing production capacity from 50 million to 100 million liters of biodiesel per year. The rest of the investment will be used to purchase areas for planting raw materials.
The investments were announced yesterday, the same day that it became mandatory for all diesel in Brazil to be 2% biodiesel.
The use of the mixture means a demand of 840 million liters of biodiesel per year, an amount which is less than the capacity of Brazilian producers: 2.5 billion liters. The new standard has opened up opportunities for Comanche’s Simões Filho plant:
“Our plant is strategically located, with good transport logistics. In addition, there is diversity of raw materials, coming from agribusiness as much as from family farmers. And finally, there are areas in the state with a lot of potential for growing new cultures,” said the executive.
The main materials used by the company are vegetable oils from cotton, soy, and sunflower, bovine fats, and used cooking oil. According to Comanche, family farming represents 50% of the sources for materials used in the production of biodiesel at Simões Filho. There are 2.2 thousand families, from various areas of inland Bahia, who sell their raw materials to the company.
“The family farmer is our chief partner. These small properties offer up great potential for oilseed production, such as the castor seed, for example,” Pesciotto explained, recalling that the investments of US$ 10 million to increase planting area will also go towards incentives for family farm activity in Bahia.
Investment fund. Comanche, which is run by an American equity investment fund, commercializes production for the domestic and foreign markets. In November of this year, the Simões Filho plant sold 20 million liters at a biodiesel auction at ANP, the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels, for a total of R$ 38 million.
The company’s bid is not, however, limited to the plants acquired at the beginning of last year. Comanche recently announced that it intends to invest US$ 300 million in the construction of an ethanol plant and a biodiesel plant in the Balsas region, a grain-producing area of Maranhão state. Maranhão has been chosen due to its logistics advantages.
According to the group board member, Delmo Vilhena, installation of the plant depends on administrative details, like licenses. Comanche wants to build a plant with capacity of 4 million tons of sugarcane per harvest, with production of 300 million liters per harvest during its final stage.
He does not disregard acquisitions of other plants on the market, despite affirming that the company will first look to consolidating the units already purchased and carrying out its Maranhão project.
“We will analyze any opportunities that come up,” said Vilhena, one of the company's seven board members, five of which are foreigners.
