Atvos, one of Brazil's largest biofuel producers, has signed an agreement to build a biomethane factory in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, it said in a statement on Wednesday.
The biomethane plant, which will cost more than $69 million (350 million Brazilian real), will have a 28-million cubic metre capacity per crop and will be Atvos' first based on sugar cane waste.
Atvos, which is backed by Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Capital, said the new facility is being built in Nova Alvorada do Sul, where it already has an ethanol factory.
The new operation will use vinasse and filter cake, waste resulting from the sugar cane production chain, as inputs.
Bruno Serapiao, chief executive of Atvos, said the unit will mark its "entry into the market for natural gas from renewable sources, with the advantage of producing it on a large scale to meet an ever-growing demand".
"At the same time, we expanded our portfolio of sustainable solutions, and, above all, we effectively contributed to the transition of the energy matrix, following a circular economy concept, by disposing of and generating new revenues from waste from our production chain,” he said in a press statement.
The project will enter an engineering analysis phase for final approval, with construction expected to start this year, Atvos said.
Mr Serapiao said the biomethane will help provide an alternative to fossil fuels, especially in regions not served by gas pipelines or in remote areas.
In addition to replacing diesel, he said it can also be used for industrial use, replacing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and fuel oil, and even in thermoelectric plants.
“In the case of Usina Santa Luzia, production should be directed to supplying part of the company's and its partners' logistics fleet, aiming to reduce the use of diesel by up to 40 per cent in the medium term," he said.
"The excess volume must be directed to the surrounding municipalities.”
Abiogás, the Brazilian Biogas Association, has projected that biomethane production will jump 600 per cent by 2029.
There are currently 20 production plants in the country, of which only six sell biogas. It's expected that the total number of production units dedicated to commercialisation will reach 90 in the next five years, 42 per cent of which will be via the sugar-energy sector.
Atvos' operation in Nova Alvorada do Sul has the capacity to crush 5.5 million tons of sugar cane and produce 498 million litres of ethanol, which is enough to power nine million compact cars, in addition to cogenerating 376 GWh of clean electrical energy, capable of supplying a population of 1.8 million people.
Mubadala investments
Mubadala Capital, the asset management subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, invested $99.6 million in Atvos last year in exchange for a 31.5 per cent stake.
Reuters reported in October that Mubadala Capital raised its stake in Atvos through investment fund FIP MC Green, acquiring the 6.85 per cent owned by Grupo Novonor, formerly known as Odebrecht.
Set up in 2011, Mubadala Capital has grown significantly in scale over the past decade, with offices around the world. It manages $22 billion in aggregate across its own balance sheet investments and third-party capital vehicles across its private equity, solutions, venture capital and Brazil businesses.
In October, Mubadala Capital closed its second investment fund in Brazil after raising more than $710 million.
Brazil Special Opportunities Fund II raised capital from a diverse set of global investors, including a leading public pension fund, family offices, corporates, private equity funds and asset managers across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Mubadala said in a statement.
Mubadala Capital closed its first fund in Brazil in February 2022 with total commitments of $322 million.
In April last year, Mubadala Capital's energy company Acelen said it would invest $2.5 billion in the next 10 years to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation kerosene in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Bahia.
Acelen – which owns the Mataripe Refinery in Bahia, Brazil's second biggest and one of the oldest in the country – plans to start production in 2026.
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
More on Quran memorisation:
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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The specs: 2018 Ford F-150
Price, base / as tested: Dh173,250 / Dh178,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 395hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 555Nm @ 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 12.4L / 100km
RACECARD
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
