The so-called SAF Decree, which will dictate the rules for airlines' efforts to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, is “about to be published”, said this Wednesday (17) the general coordinator of Biodiesel and Other Biofuels at the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), Lorena Mendes de Souza.   SAF is the acronym in English for Sustainable Aviation Fuel, identified as the main path to decarbonization of the aviation sector.   Related news: Petrobras reduces the price of aviation kerosene by 14.2%. Government extends discounts on aviation kerosene and biodiesel. The decree aims to regulate the Future Fuel Law (Law 14,993/2024), which outlines routes for the energy transition in the country, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases - such as CO₂ - which cause global warming and, consequently, climate change.  “I would like to take this opportunity to inform you, in advance, that the SAF Decree is about to be published, it is at the Ministry of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic, awaiting the final procedures”, revealed Lorena Souza.  “With this publication, we are able to take a very important step towards this public policy, towards the predictability of investments in biorefining in Brazil”, he added.   The statements were made during the IBP Forum – SAF Brasil 2026 event, promoted in Rio de Janeiro by the Brazilian Institute of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (IBP), which represents companies in the sector. She participated via video conference.  >> Follow the Agência Brasil channel on WhatsApp Fuel of the future The Future Fuel Law established the National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Program (ProBioQAV), a set of policies that encourage SAF research, production, commercialization and energy use.   SAF is a mixture of aviation kerosene with renewable raw materials, such as vegetable oils, animal fat or ethanol from sugar cane or corn. This mixture makes it possible to cut greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fuel by up to 80%.  One of the program's goals is that, from 2027, airlines reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1%. The degree of reduction is staggered, so that the sector reaches 2037 with a 10% reduction in emissions.   On the international scene, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has determined emissions neutrality by 2050 as a goal, that is, sequestering or rewarding the amount of gases emitted.   According to the executive director of Downstream (final flow of a process) at IBP, Carlos Orlando Enrique da Silva, SAF is the “product that appears most relevant to face this energy transition”.  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that 65% of emissions reductions by 2050 will be achieved by SAF. According to IATA's Brazil manager, Simone Warmbrand, in 2026, SAF production in the world will be 2.4 million tons, 0.8% of global aviation fuel use.  Interested waiting The SAF Decree is expected by producers, the aviation sector and federal regulatory agencies, as a way of unlocking fuel production and demand in the country.  SAF specialist advisor Priscilla Vieira, from the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac), expressed expectation for the publication of the decree, which will outline what Anac's role should be as a regulator of the use of SAF by airlines.    "Anac works around the clock. Everything depends on the signing and publication of the decree. We hope it comes out this week", he stated.     She anticipated that the decree will present points such as obligations and rights of producers, importers, mixing agents and air operators. Anac needs the publication to regulate the text.  Another regulatory agency waiting for the SAF Decree is the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP), linked to the MME. “There are some doubts that I am waiting for the decree to clarify,” said the ANP’s deputy superintendent of Technology and Environment, Maria Auxiliadora de Arruda Nobre. She added that the ANP will be responsible for issues such as regulating fuel quality, ensuring operational safety, and methodology for calculating flight emissions.  The superintendent reinforced the view that SAF is the path to energy transition in the air, unlike the automotive industry, in which electrification is seen as promising.   Petrobras  In Brazil, Petrobras is the main producer and supplier of SAF, representing 92% of all fuel currently sold. The company's SAF is produced at the Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc), in Rio de Janeiro, but there are plans to extend it to other units.  The executive manager of Integrated Energy Transition Management at Petrobras, William Vella Nozaki, participated in the meeting and delivered a message from the company's president, Magda Chambriard.   “She told me: ‘just like the entire airline and energy sector, we are looking forward to the publication of the decree’”, he reproduced.   Companies from the agro and energy sector participated in the meeting, such as Raízen (ethanol), Bugen and Vibra (distributor).    Nozaki added that Chambriard guaranteed that “whatever the text of the decree, we will be together in the search for a solution that involves paths for traceability, certification and efficiency in both prices and taxes, so that this energy transition alternative is also an energy security alternative for the country”.  In addition to Petrobras, a company seeking SAF production is Acelen Renováveis, from the private group that already owns the Mataripe refinery (formerly Landulpho Alves), in São Francisco do Conde, Bahia.  Acelen will develop SAF from macaúba, a native Brazilian plant adapted to the cerrado.  Price  One of the concerns with sustainable aviation fuel is the cost, which is higher than traditional fossil aviation kerosene.   Anac advisor Priscilla Vieira believes that the Future Fuel Law could have the effect of creating demand, so that the final price of the SAF is more affordable.  "It created a demand to bring predictability to fuel producers. Producers will invest, they will bring investment from the financial market to be able to start producing", he said.  “Supply comes in, demand pressure drops a little, so the price may settle a little, lower than what we have today, with very high demand pressure”, he concluded.