Brazil Moves to Update Marine Fuel Rules for Biofuels and LNG
Key Takeaways
- •The ANP published its draft proposal on July 27 to update Resolution No. 903/2022, which sets specifications for marine diesel oil and marine fuel oil sold in Brazil.
- •The proposed changes would approve B100 marine biofuel for routine use by ships and recognize HVO, green diesel, and gas-to-liquids fuels as drop-in alternatives requiring no engine modifications.
- •Biofuel blending oversight would shift from a prior authorization requirement to a notification system for authorized blending companies under the new framework.
- •Methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and ethanol would still require ANP experimental approval before bunkering, while LNG would move to a separate authorization process.
- •The public consultation remains open until September 10, with a public hearing scheduled for September 23 to discuss the proposed regulatory updates.
Brazil has opened a public consultation on proposed changes to its marine fuel regulations that would expand the use of biofuels and alternative marine fuels in the country's shipping sector.
The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) published the draft proposal on July 27 to update Resolution No. 903/2022, which sets specifications for marine diesel oil and marine fuel oil sold in Brazil.
The draft would align Brazil's marine fuel specifications with ISO 8217:2024 and support the sector's energy transition, international law firm Mayer Brown said on its website on Wednesday.
Among the proposed changes is approval for up to B100 (100% marine biofuel) to be supplied for routine use by ships, rather than only under exceptional circumstances. The move is significant for Brazil, which ranks among the world's largest biofuel producers and already supplies biodiesel derived from soybean oil and other feedstocks for its domestic road fuel market.
The regulator also plans to recognise HVO, green diesel and gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuels as drop-in alternatives that can be used without changes to engines or bunkering infrastructure.
The proposal would replace the current requirement for prior ANP authorisation of biofuel blending with a notification system for authorised blending companies.
Methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and ethanol would still require ANP experimental approval before they can be bunkered, while LNG would move to a separate authorisation process reflecting the availability of established technical standards.
The changes come as the global shipping industry works toward the International Maritime Organization's strategy to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050. Brazil's regulatory update would bring its rules more closely into line with international standards and provide a clearer framework for biofuel operations already taking place in its maritime sector.
The public consultation is open until September 10, with a public hearing scheduled for September 23.