Own biomethane drives new São Martinho logistics
São Martinho, in partnership with the companies Rumo, Necta and Transvale, developed Rota Verde, a sustainable logistics project in the Brazilian sugar-energy sector.
The operation integrates road transport, powered by natural gas and biomethane, and rail, to transport sugar from the Santa Cruz Unit, located in Américo Brasiliense (SP), ensuring efficiency and a significant reduction in environmental impacts.
The initiative foresees the use of vehicles 100% powered by natural gas, until the transition to full use of biomethane in the entire fleet responsible for transporting sugar at the unit. The trucks, equipped with gas, will promote a cleaner and more efficient operation. Furthermore, the operation will rely on the existing rail connection between Rumo's transshipment terminal, located in Itirapina/SP, and the Port of Santos, ensuring greater logistical integration.
The project's differential is the possibility of using the surplus produced by the São Martinho biomethane plant, in Américo Brasiliense (SP), strengthening the circular economy. The biomethane production unit came into operation in August 2025 and received R$250 million for its implementation.
According to Helder Gosling, Commercial and Logistics Director at São Martinho, Rota Verde marks a significant advance in the integration between logistical efficiency and environmental responsibility.
The operation should transport around 350 thousand tons of sugar per year, ensuring greater efficiency and cost reduction. With this, it will be possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 87% compared to conventional diesel-powered vehicles, according to a Life Cycle Assessment (ACV) study by the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology.
According to José Eduardo Moreira, CEO of Necta, the partnership shows that it is possible to combine sustainability with operational savings, proving that biomethane is competitive in relation to diesel.
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The project began in May and is being operated by Transvale, which will provide vehicles and drivers 24 hours a day, 26 days a month, for 10 months a year, until March 2030. The transport company's initial investment is estimated at R$15 million, with 10 47-ton bucket roadtrain sets.
The expectation is for an increase of up to 20% in the productivity index of the São Martinho operation, reducing average time and transportation costs.
For Altamir Perottoni Junior, Commercial Vice-President of Rumo, the initiative is fundamental for uniting different links in the chain in a project that contributes to decarbonization, reinforcing the importance of complementarity between the railway mode, which in essence already has a lower carbon footprint, and the sustainable road mode, which promotes the replacement of diesel with biomethane.
The initiative is aligned with São Martinho's ESG ambitions and global decarbonization goals, promoting innovative practices that drive a low environmental impact economy.
Source: CNN