Source: The State of S. Paulo - São Paulo / SP - 31/08/2010

Eduardo Magossi, Gustavo Porto SERTÃOZINHO (SP) - The State of São Paulo

The chairman of the Board of Directors of Cosan, Rubens Ometto, said yesterday that the trend is for the Esso brand to disappear in the medium term, within the new structure formed by the joint venture with Shell, confirmed last week. According to the executive, the Shell brand tends to prevail in the new structure. "Everything is being organized, but it is natural that Shell has priority."

Regarding the joint venture with Shell, Ometto declared that he still cannot disclose data regarding the synergy generated by the agreement. He said, however, that this synergy will not only come from the network of gas stations, but also from the information technology, financial and administrative areas of companies.

Pedro Mizutani, president of Cosan Açúcar e Álcool, added that, now that the joint venture between Shell and Cosan has been sealed, the company will wait for about 45 days for the agreement to be endorsed by the European Commission, so that the new steps are taken. defined. The executives participate in the 12th International Forum on the Future of Alcohol, which is being held in Sertãozinho (SP), in the Ribeirão Preto region, and which is part of the International Sugar and Alcohol Industry Fair (Fenasucro).

Evasion. Ometto said that reducing taxes on ethanol would be the most effective measure to end tax evasion in the sector. He highlighted the example of the State of São Paulo, which reduced the ICMS to 12%, and which should be followed by the other States. "Equalization of the ICMS depends on political will and, in this sense, the State of São Paulo is an example to be followed."

Bioelectricity. Ometto also stated that the government has not yet understood the importance of bioelectricity generated from sugarcane bagasse to supply the Brazilian energy matrix. "The prices being offered at auctions are not viable", he complained. He guaranteed that cane straw, for example, which is not being used, could contribute significantly to the supply of electricity in the country. and that, from then on, these values ​​were gradually reduced.

Pedro Mizutani, in turn, stated that the company will not sell bioelectricity produced using biomass at the prices offered in a renewable energy auction, held last week. According to him, the final auction price of R $ 134,00 per megawatt (mw) makes any investment in cogeneration unfeasible, even for capacity expansion. “Cosan would sell energy from the Carapó Plant, in Mato Grosso do Sul, to expand the existing production at the plant. However, given the auction price, we decided not to sell. ”

For the executive, in order to invest in an expansion of already installed capacity, the price would have to be above R $ 150,00 per MW. Mizutani informed that, to invest in the retrofitting of plants to co-generate energy through biomass, the auction sale value would have to be above R $ 180,00 per MW. Cosan already has ten plants generating energy and two others that are expected to start operating in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Cogeneration

OMETTO RUBENS
CHAIRMAN OF THE COSAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“The prices offered (for the energy from sugarcane bagasse) at auctions are not viable”