Brazilian researchers are set to begin laboratory testing of higher biodiesel concentrations in diesel from May, in a move that could pave the way for the country to raise its mandatory blend beyond the current 15 per cent level, Reuters reported.
Renato Romio, manager of the vehicles division at the Maua Institute of Technology, made the announcement on the sidelines of an industry event jointly organised by the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (Abiove) and the Brazilian Institute of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels in Sao Paulo.
In the first phase, the institute plans to test blends of 15 per cent and 20 per cent biodiesel in diesel, referred to as B15 and B20 respectively. Romio said the first engine to be tested would be installed next month, with the test fuels expected to arrive in the last week of May. Each engine will undergo 300 hours of testing to evaluate filter clogging, injection system performance, and the condition of injector nozzles.
A second phase of testing will separately assess pollutant emissions using blends of 7 per cent and 25 per cent biodiesel, though Romio clarified these would be emissions-only evaluations rather than full long-duration road tests.
The move comes against the backdrop of global energy disruption triggered by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran since February 2026, which has intensified calls within Brazil to raise mandated biofuel blends and reduce dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy sources. Brazil currently mandates a 15 per cent biodiesel blend in diesel and a 30 per cent ethanol blend in gasoline. The country is a major producer of biofuels, drawing primarily on soybean oil and sugarcane as feedstocks.
Under Brazil’s Future Fuels Law, the mandatory biodiesel blend is required to increase by one percentage point each year until it reaches 20 per cent by 2030. However, the blend has remained at 15 per cent because earlier studies identified that level as the current safety threshold, and the law requires technical feasibility evaluations before any further increase can be approved.
Daniel Amaral, director of economics and regulatory affairs at Abiove, described the upcoming tests as a significant step for the industry. He said the testing programme was broad, had been thoroughly discussed by all relevant stakeholders, and would open the door to blends beyond B15 and up to B20, which he called a promising scenario for the biodiesel sector.
