Agência Brasil*
Brasília – The Studies and Projects Funding Body (Finep), an organization connected to the Ministry of Science and Technology is going to invest 12 million Brazilian reais (US$ 5.7 million at current exchange rates) to prepare 32 laboratories that will be in charge of evaluating and attesting the quality of the biodiesel consumed in the country. The investment will be applied in equipment for the laboratories to be capable of accomplishing this role.
The idea is for each region to have anchor laboratories to subsidize smaller ones. An analyst who is responsible for energy products at Finep, Laércio Siqueira explains that the funds are important, as all fuels consumed in the country must follow standards established by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP).
"In the South of Brazil, the University of Blumenau is in charge of this work," stated Laércio Siqueira in a radio interview.
In each state there will be a laboratories created or prepared by the Finep to operate as a kind of appendix to anchor institutes, to be part of the network to control biodiesel.
Laércio Siqueira points out that the forecast for this process to begin is 12 to 18 months and that these laboratories currently do not certify the fuel.
He pointed out that the investment may still be increased this year and secondary equipment, which is not being purchased now, may still be acquired.
*Translated by Mark Ament
