ECB Group defines Strategic Planning to be the largest producer of advanced biofuels in Latin America

Erasmo Carlos Battistella, CEO and founder of the group, announces former Agriculture Minister Francisco Turra as the new president of the Board of Directors, which brings together big names in business management and agribusiness.

 

The ECB Group has just announced the map it will follow to achieve its goals in the next 10 years. With a focus on agribusiness and renewable energy, strategic planning establishes that the group will invest and generate value in sustainable businesses, with emphasis on investments in advanced biofuels, with the objective of being the largest producer in Latin America by 2025.

Another important part of the planning is to foster businesses that position the organization among the three largest biofuel producers in the world, in addition to becoming Carbon Neutral by 2030. "We will maintain a portfolio of investments in constant renewal, seeking innovation and technological advances with a bias in the best environmental, social and governance practices, with the ESG governance and sustainability model," explains Erasmo Carlos Battistella, founder and CEO of ECB Group.

BSBIOS Biodiesel Industry and Trade South Brazil S.A, a company of the ECB Group, completed 15 years of existence on April 15, 2020, in a year marked by changes in the company's shareholding structure. RP Holdings (wholly owned subsidiary of the ECB Group), which already held 50% of the controlling interest, acquired the other 50% stake held by Petrobras Biofuels S/A and took control of 100% of BSBIOS on February 9, 2021, after cade's approval.

Despite the challenging scenario imposed by the pandemic, the company ended 2020 with the best economic result of its historical series, with a turnover of R$ 5.2 billion (57.5% higher than the previous year) and with a mark of 755,154 m³ in the year of biodiesel production. The result is due to the investment of 43.75% in expansion of production capacity in the Passo Fundo Unit, thus following another year as the largest biodiesel producer in the Brazilian market.

At the beginning of March 2021, the company has already expanded its production capacity at the Passo Fundo (RS) unit to 468 million liters of biodiesel per year, or 1,300 m³ per day, which represented an increase of 13%. In January, the Marialva unit in Paraná had also received authorization to increase capacity for the same volume. The two units can now produce 936 million liters of biodiesel per year.

Battistella highlighted as key factors for the good performance of the year the ability to originate raw materials, the reduction of costs of implementing efficient technologies, the management of operational expenses and the reduction of the interest rate. "The main point, without a doubt, is the workforce of the professionals who make up the ECB and BSBIOS team," he added.

With the consolidation of BSBIOS and the advance of the US$ 800 million investment in the Omega Green project for the production of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, also known as Renewable Diesel), SPK (Synthetic Paraphynic Kerosene, also known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel or Biojet), and Green Naphtha (used in the chemical industry to make green plastic, among other products), Battistella wants to help the world in the energy transition to cleaner energy sources and be a global benchmark in sustainability to influence and develop policies to combat climate change. 

 

New Board of Directors

Battistella has announced former Agriculture Minister Francisco Turra as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECB Group. Francisco Turra was Minister of Agriculture in the management of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, president of the National Supply Company (Conab) and vice-president of the Regional Development Bank of the Extreme South (BRDE). He recently left the presidency of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), taking the leadership of the Advisory Board of the entity.

Graduated in Social Communication from PUC (RS) and Bachelor of Law from the Federal University of Passo Fundo (RS), Turra worked in Councils and Associations linked to Agribusiness, was mayor, state deputy of Rio Grande do Sul, leader of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul and Federal Deputy. "Erasmo has a look at the brave future, is determined and knows what he does," Turra explained as he assumed the presidency of the Council. "The challenge stimulates me, we are with a privileged group and proposals that delight me," he said.

"We are very proud to have the experience and wisdom of Francisco Turra on our Board of Directors," Battistella said. "His leadership will be fundamental to the success of the conduct of our business project in the coming years, participating in the sustainable development of the planet through agroenergy", he celebrated. In addition to Erasmo Carlos Battistella, as Vice-President, the new Board of Directors is composed of directors with deep knowledge and experience in the areas of business management and agribusiness, such as:

 

 

Ividio Schweizer, partner of BSCor - Insurance Broker, with accumulated experience of 35 years at Banco do Brasil;

Paulo Roberto de Souza, former Ceo of Copersucar and current CEO of Alvean Sugar S.L.;

Marcos Cittolin, former Secretary of Development of Passo Fundo and former Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the Superintendence of Ports and Waterways;

Luiz Fernando Giorgi, who was president for Brazil and global partner of HayGroup, as well as Vice President of Suzano Holding. Today he directs LFG Assessoria;

Paulo Alaniz, president of the 6th regional of IBRACON (Institute of Independent Auditors of Brazil) and is managing director of audit at Baker Tilly Brasil RS.

 

Battistella stressed the importance of leaders and people in the group's growth. "To successfully execute the new planning, it will be essential to participate and the dedication of the whole team", he said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us and with a great team we will devote a lot to fulfilling our planning with the best practices of corporate management and Compliance. Thus, the role of the counselors, who have a lot of knowledge in their areas of activity, is a very large differential for everyone in the organization."