Braskem signed a long term agreement with Sojitz Corporation to supply ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether), an automotive bioadditive. This agreement approaches a 120,000 ton volume for three years.

ETBE is produced by mixing ethanol (43%) and isobutene (57%) In the whole world, there is a growing trend to use ETBE to replace MTBE (Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether), an elevating index of original mix in gasoline, due to its more favorable environmental characteristics, and suitable to current standard requirements, also impacting on CO2 reduction.

In Japan, introducing biomass fuels was stimulated due to Protocol of Kyoto signing. Starting in 2010, the Japanese oil industry plans to put 840,000 m³ ETBE a year. In Europe almost 4,000,000 tons of ETBE has been commercialized every year. Sojitz will start to sell ETBE in 2009 and its goal is to increase these volumes to reach both Japanese and European markets.

"I believe this agreement with Sojitz shows the predisposition of both companies to explore and develop new boarders and markets for biofuels, using Sojitz’s experience and know-how in the Asian market", says Jorge Augusto Carmelo, responsible for business development at UNIB.

Today, at Polo do Triunfo, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, 160,000 tons of ETBE are produced every year. In 2008, the company announced an R$100,000,000 inversion on Camaçari unit, in the state of Bahia, to convert MTBE production into EBTE. When this project is concluded, during the second half of this year, Braskem will be able to produce 330,000 tons of ETBE annually.

The USA and Europe were the main destinations for Braskem’s MTBE products. "Braskem, foreseeing the world trend of biofuels, which is more relevant after MTBE is banished from the North American market, started to convert its Industrial Units, in Camaçari, in order to supply ETBE to the European and Asian markets this year", says Carmelo.

ETBE has important environmental advantages, once it uses sugarcane ethanol in its preparation. With this renewable natural resource, there is a 76% reduction in CO2 emission in the atmosphere, considering since sugarcane plantation until additive production.