In Villa María, Córdoba, the country’s first second-generation biofuels plant will be installed. The initiative will use used vegetable oil (UVO) as the main input to produce biodiesel, without generating waste and with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The project brings together the State and private capital: the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Services of Córdoba, the Municipality of Villa María, the local Industrial Park, and the company PowerBio signed a letter of intent to develop a Bioenergy Hub on a 5,600 m² site.
Capacity and Projections
- Daily processing: 5,000 liters of used oil.
- Monthly production: around 80,000 liters of biodiesel.
- Environmental impact: equivalent to removing 366 vehicles from circulation per month.
- Initial investment: US$430,000 from the public sector in infrastructure and US$505,000 from PowerBio in equipment and operation.
The scheme includes a B20 mixer, a dispensing point to supply public fleets, and a system for collecting oily waste from restaurants and industries.
Circular Economy and Public Supply
The political key to the project lies in the circular economy: transforming a polluting waste into usable energy. The biodiesel will initially supply municipal and provincial vehicles in the General San Martín department, including EPEC, Police, and Road units, which will be able to operate with B20 and B50 blends at preferential costs.
Additionally, there are plans to incorporate E17 (gasoline with bioethanol) dispensing to extend the reach to other state fleets, turning Villa María into a multimodal cargo hub with biodiesel, bioethanol, and electric mobility.
Regulatory Framework and Strategic Vision
Minister Fabián López presented the initiative as a turning point for Córdoba, supported by the Provincial Law 10.721, which promotes the production and consumption of biofuels. The recent national authorization to market blends of up to 20% biodiesel in diesel and 15% bioethanol in gasoline reinforces the strategic opportunity.
Córdoba, historically a leader in corn-based bioethanol, now seeks to expand its prominence towards biodiesel produced from waste. Villa María appears as an ideal territory due to its industrial network, proximity to oil plants, and logistical capacity.
Urban and Environmental Dimension
Mayor Eduardo Accastello highlighted that the project also aims for a zero carbon footprint. The installation of a green point to collect used oil will prevent contamination in sewers and watercourses, incorporating citizens into the energy policy.
Private Innovation
From the private sector, PowerBio seeks to position itself as a pioneer in an emerging category in Argentina.
Second-generation biofuels differ from traditional ones because they do not compete with food crops, but rather reuse existing waste, a key aspect in sustainability debates.
Future Challenges
- Ensuring the supply of raw materials.
- Consolidating collection logistics.
- Competing economically against conventional fuels.
In a context of energy transition, Córdoba is betting on combining industry, environment, and public management.
Villa María, traditionally linked to agro-industrial chains, seeks to redefine its productive profile. If the plan progresses, it will not only host an industrial plant: it will become a concrete laboratory of how to transform urban and industrial waste into energy, development, and political signal.
