American company to build sustainable fuel factory in Paraná

Project led by Satarem America foresees total investments of R$2.3 billion

The government of Paraná has received a proposal for the construction of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in Maringá. The feasibility of the project was discussed at a meeting held this month with representatives of Satarem America Inc., a US industrial engineering company specializing in solutions for the cement, energy and sustainability sectors. Production is expected to begin in 2028.

The investment for the new factory is expected to be R$2.3 billion (US$425 million). Initially, the site will use ethanol as raw material.

“This is yet another company that will bring 800 direct jobs and another 2,000 to 3,000 indirect jobs to Paraná. And it produces aviation fuel, a product that is likely to grow as airlines have a global obligation to reach zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. To do this, they will need to use all the fuel that SAF will produce in Maringá,” commented the vice-governor of Paraná, Darci Piana.

The obligation to eliminate GHG emissions by the middle of this century is a study defined by the Paris Agreement. According to Satarem's presentation, airlines will need to use 71% SAF to reach the international target.

“The market exists. The conditions for growth also exist. This is the first factory, but they are already talking about building a second one. Imagine how much this will grow and help Maringá, the entire region, and Paraná itself,” added Piana.

Next steps

Jerome Friler, CEO of Satarem America, stated that part of the technical studies have been completed and the next step will be to finalize the purchase of the land, which is located on the border between Maringá and Sarandi. The financing process and issuance of the necessary documentation should continue until mid-2026. From then on, construction of the factory will begin immediately.

According to the schedule presented by the company, the first liter of sustainable fuel should be produced in December 2028.

“This project is very important to us. It is the largest investment made by our company at this time in Latin America. Maringá is a great place for SAF production, because of the availability of ethanol, infrastructure and good access to export routes, by road and rail to the Port of Paranaguá,” said the executive.

Strategy

Much of the production at this early stage of the project will be destined for export. However, the company intends for a portion to be used by local aviation. A second plant is in the plans, increasing production capacity and, consequently, also the consumption of raw materials from the region, such as biogas from livestock farming.

One of Satarem's representatives in Brazil, Júlio Gabardo, highlighted the factors that led the company to choose Paraná to make the project viable.

“A number of factors brought the company here. First, the issue of adequate logistics, close to a port. Because this is a product initially aimed at the foreign market. It is a fuel that is already being negotiated in advance with some airlines, the main one being Ethiopian Air Lines,” he analyzed.