In late March, efen and Wilson Sons carried out Brazil’s first hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuelling operation for the maritime sector at the Açu Liquid Bulk Terminal (TLA), owned by Vast Infraestrutura.
Approved by Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) just a month earlier, this operation marked the debut of HVO testing on vessels in the country. The green diesel, imported by efen, was used to power Wilson Sons’ tugboats at the Port of Açu in Rio de Janeiro.
The ongoing tests aim to assess the fuel’s efficiency, maintenance impacts, and emissions reduction potential. efen’s CEO, Rafael Pinheiro, emphasized the significance of this milestone and shared plans to expand HVO supply to more vessels in the port.
Meanwhile, Wilson Sons sees this as an important move toward meeting its sustainability goals. Executive Director Marcio Castro highlighted the fuel’s compatibility with existing engines and praised the collaboration with efen, Vast, and Porto do Açu.
Additionally, Vast Infraestrutura plans to upgrade its terminal infrastructure to handle a broader range of biofuels and bulk liquids. Port of Açu CEO Eugenio Figueredo noted that the port’s focus on low-carbon projects includes supporting the development of non-fossil fuel production, such as green hydrogen, ammonia, and HVO.
