Proálcool, the response to the oil crisis, turns half a century in November

On November 14, 1975, Brazil made the important decision to create the National Alcohol Program (Proálcool), in order to reduce its dependence on imported oil. Our economy was severely shocked by the first oil shock of 1973, when the price of a barrel quadrupled and the country produced only 20% of what it consumed. In 1979, with the second shock, prices more than doubled.

Before the arrival of flex fuel, there were only alcohol-powered cars

Proálcool’s strategy was to increase the addition of ethanol to gasoline, export this surplus derivative and import the oil to produce diesel. Only part of the rolling fleet was converted to use ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and manufacturers began to offer cars that ran exclusively on fuel of plant origin. The country has established independent factories that produce only fuel, while others produce ethanol and sugar.

An internal crisis occurred in the late 1980s, when the federal government reduced subsidies, less sugarcane was grown and ethanol became scarce. A mixture called MEG (methanol, ethanol and gasoline) was imported to avoid rationing. Queues appeared in front of gas stations. The situation stabilized, but ethanol only regained its position in 2003 with the launch of flex-fuel cars (Gol 1.6). These products accept petroleum derivatives or vegetable fuel, pure or mixed, in any proportion.

Currently, 33% of flexible engines use hydro-ethanol

The importance of ethanol has increased again due to carbon dioxide emissions. In the process of photosynthesis, sugarcane plantations sequester up to 80% of carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) and return oxygen to the atmosphere, fighting global warming responsible for the planet’s warming. Recently, corn in Brazil has also gained importance in ethanol production, similar to the United States, the world’s largest producer of this fuel used there in addition to gasoline.

Today, on average, 33% of flex engines (which are present in 85% of the light-duty commercial vehicle fleet) use hydro-ethanol. Gasoline contains a mixture of 30% anhydrous ethanol. In total, nearly two-thirds.

It is important to emphasize that corn and sugarcane do not interfere with food production. In both cases, in addition to plant fuel there are by-products. Sugarcane is more versatile, using bagasse, straw, wine, filter cake, and yeast, while corn provides bran rich in protein, fiber, and minerals for animal feed.