Brazilian fuel retailer Vibra Energia VBBR3.SA is expanding sales of higher-margin diesel products to Brazil’s mining sector, betting on a premium fuel tested by Vale VALE3.SA that the company says delivers greater operating efficiency and fuel economy, an executive told Reuters.
The Supera Plus diesel was tested at Vale Base Metals’ Salobo mine in Para state, where it reduced fuel consumption by 5% and delivered estimated annual savings of 9.27 million reais ($1.79 million).
At Vale’s Onça Puma mine, also in Para, fuel consumption fell 6% in ore transport operations, doubling the interval between filter changes from 250 to 500 hours.
The product uses higher-quality biodiesel with fewer contaminants and includes cetane boosters to improve combustion efficiency, corrosion inhibitors and oxidation inhibitors.
Vibra plans to expand the premium diesel to agribusiness, industry and logistics, B2B Executive Vice President Juliano Prado said.
The company sells about 1.7 million cubic meters of diesel to mining annually, about 20% of B2B diesel sales, and holds nearly 60% market share in the sector.
Vibra’s B2B division posted adjusted EBITDA of 1.7 billion reais in the second quarter, up 142% year-on-year.
($1 = 5.1683 reais)
(Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
