Brazil seeks biomethane to reduce diesel dependency

Brazil faces significant diesel dependency, with consumption reaching approximately 50.5 billion liters in 2025. Despite high crude oil production, the country lacks sufficient refining capacity to meet domestic demand. According to the ANP, net diesel imports accounted for 16.3 billion liters in 2025, representing 27.3% of internal demand.

This reliance exposes the Brazilian economy to international oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and freight costs. Data from the Banco Central indicates that diesel accounted for 61% of the total value of imported petroleum derivatives in 2025.

As an alternative to reduce this dependency, biomethane produced from organic household waste is emerging as a potential solution for the transport and production sectors.