Meeting of the National Energy Policy Council would debate increasing the mixture of ethanol in gasoline; there is no new date
The Ministry of Mines and Energy canceled the meeting that would have discussed increasing the mandatory blend of ethanol in gasoline from 30% (E30) to 32% (E32). The meeting of the collegiate chaired by the minister, which would have been on May 7th and was postponed to this Monday (May 11th, 2026), does not have a new date to be held.
The deliberation was the first item on the meeting’s agenda. According to the Poder360progress in approving new mixtures depends on Silveira. The report questioned the ministry about the reason for the cancellation. There was no response until the publication of this text.
Recent statements by the president (PT) increased the biofuels sector’s expectations about change. On April 30, the PT member said that the government was about to announce the expansion of mandatory mixing. He cited the advance towards E32 and the increase in the biodiesel content in diesel from 15% (B15) to 16% (B16).
The tests necessary to prove the technical feasibility of the E32 are already advanced, which allows the CNPE to deliberate. In the case of B16, studies should begin in May and will last at least 6 months. The government expects to announce the change by the end of the year.
The advancement of the mixtures is planned in sanctioned in October 2024. The text determines that the expansion be gradual, as long as there is technical feasibility. According to the legislation’s schedule, progress to B16 should have been in March, but was postponed.
IMPACT OF THE WAR
The debate about increasing the mixture gains strength at a time of rising fossil fuels. The price increase continues to reflect the increase in the price of a barrel of Brent oil, pressured by the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran, which entered its 3rd month in May.
The Biodiesel Parliamentary Front, which is pushing for progress to B16, states that the rise in conventional fuels is the ideal window for the government to increase mandatory blends. It says that the movement would strengthen the competitiveness of national biofuel production and help contain prices and imports, reducing external dependence.
The assessment is that the high volume of diesel subsidy by the government would not be necessary, as the increase in the mixture would mean that the sector would need to import less conventional fuel and the domestic biodiesel industry is capable of meeting the demand.
FPBio argues that it is not yet necessary to carry out the testing phase for B16, as countries such as the USA and Indonesia already safely use more advanced mixtures. The legislation provides for proof of “technical feasibility” of mixtures, but does not specifically mention “testes”according to the understanding of the front.
