São Paulo –Biotechnos Projetos Autossustentáveis (Self-Sustainable Projects), a manufacturer of biodiesel and ethanol plants, is preparing to export. The company has a representative in South Africa and should continue negotiations with buyers from the country soon. The representative covers the continent and the company intends to sell to other African nations as well.
“Africa is developing at full tilt, the potential is huge,” says the chairman of the board of managers, Marcia Werle, mentioning countries such as Angola and Mozambique, and adding that there are many problems with energy in the region. “Biodiesel can be an energy solution,” says Werle. Taking our equipment to South Africa and setting up a demonstration plant there would help our sales, says the executive.
Based in Santa Rosa, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Biotechnos was established in 2007 and entered the market in the second half of 2008. The idea for the business came from Werle, the holder of a degree in Administration and an MBA in Business Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), and was embraced by her brother Jacir José Werle, a partner alongside the Rio de Janeiro-based Jumcam company. The company manufactures the equipment – partially outsourced –, sets up the plants, provides training and assistance.
Biotechnos’ plants are geared towards ethanol and biodiesel production. For biodiesel, the capacities available are 500 litres, 1,000 litres, 5,000 litres, and 10,000 litres. The product can be made from vegetable oils, but the main idea of Biotechnos is to make biodiesel from recycled cooking oil. In addition to selling the plants, the company implements projects for local productive arrangements (LPAs) to organize collection of oil for recycling.
According to Werle, up until now seven biodiesel plants have been sold, all in Brazil. Five of them use residual oil, and two use sunflower oil as well. The company has sold four ethanol plants to date. The executive explains that the diesel oil produced can be used as fuel for both urban transportation and for tractors and other rural vehicles.
The company will help set up 40 local productive arrangements to supply biodiesel made from residual oil to the Brazilian cities that will host 2014 World Cup matches or training centres. The fuel will be meant for use in urban transport within these municipalities, as well as to transport the World Cup delegations.
Biotechnos has eight employees, which would qualify it as a small company, however it is considered medium-sized based on revenue range. The company will participate in Expo Brasil Sustentável, a fair for sustainable development products and services due to be held parallel to the Rio+20 Conference, from June 16 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro, at the Warehouse 3 of Píer Mauá.
Contact
Biotechnos Projetos Autossustentáveis
WEbsite: www.biotechnos.com.br
Telephone: +55 55 3513-0831
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
