At its Concón refinery, the company processed 350,000 liters of used cooking oil collected from restaurants and fast-food establishments across the country, transforming it into low-carbon diesel called "ENAP Renewable Diesel."
In a milestone for the country, the Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (Enap) has successfully produced Chilean-standard diesel with a lower carbon footprint, known as "Enap Renewable Diesel," at its Aconcagua Refinery in Concón, Valparaíso.
It is produced from used cooking oil (UCO, for its acronym in English), and its greatest virtue is that, together with having identical chemical characteristics as traditional diesel, each liter of this type of oil that is transformed into diesel allows to reduce the CO2 equivalent by 80%. The product complies with Chilean regulations (NCH 62) governing fuels.
The “Enap renewable diesel” process was verified by an independent certifier, confirming an approximate reduction of 1,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions during the test run.
First-generation biofuels, made from virgin oils (e.g., soybean, corn, or sugarcane), have existed for decades. The appeal of advanced biofuels—classified as second generation and beyond—lies in their production from different waste materials, such as used cooking oil, animal fat waste, or forestry industry residues, among others. This is what makes them valuable as a sustainable energy source.
Representing Enap, the event was led by Board Chair Gloria Maldonado; Director Laura Albornoz; Labor Director Nolberto Díaz; and the company’s CEO, Julio Friedmann.
Enap’s Board Chair, Gloria Maldonado, emphasized the historic significance of this production for Chile’s development and the company, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2025. “The energy of tomorrow is produced today. The Enap of the future is one that responsibly advances toward the production of low-carbon fuels, aligning with our important role as a state-owned company. Producing renewable fuels is a key point in our 2040 Strategic Plan, through which we aim to be leaders in the country’s decarbonization efforts, providing fuels with a lower environmental impact,” she stated.
Enap’s CEO, Julio Friedmann, stated, “The success of this development, carried out at one of our refineries, allows us to expand our fuel offerings by incorporating solutions with a smaller CO2 footprint for our clients and end consumers. In fact, we have already signed agreements to develop and market this type of fuel."
The production of “Enap Renewable Diesel” from waste materials is a significant contribution to transforming Chile’s energy matrix, complementing other national efforts.
Energy Minister Diego Pardow highlighted, “This milestone once again demonstrates that Empresa Nacional del Petróleo is at the forefront of innovation and technological development in the energy transition journey. The use of low-emission fuels is a key mitigation measure in our Energy Sector Climate Change Plan and represents an important step in fulfilling the country’s commitment to reducing our carbon footprint."
Acting Government Spokesperson and Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation, Aisén Etcheverry, emphasized the environmental benefits. “We deeply value this Enap initiative, where collaborative efforts enable real transformation. This approach allows us to tackle challenges with new tools, achieving remarkable outcomes, such as an 80% reduction in this diesel’s carbon footprint. This showcases Chile’s talent, enabling progress toward a future where our children can thrive."
The process
Teams from various Enap divisions and business units collaborated to enable renewable fuel production at the Aconcagua Refinery. This effort included a thorough technical analysis of raw materials and the compatibility of existing infrastructure.
“This milestone in our energy history reflects the commitment of Enap’s workers to the country and embodies their internal drive to contribute to a better environment and quality of life for Chileans,” said Friedmann.
In August of last year, the company conducted a production trial of “Enap Renewable Diesel,” processing 350,000 liters of used cooking oil from restaurants and fast-food outlets nationwide.
By the second day of testing, the company successfully transformed the oil into renewable diesel through a hydrotreatment process. This result underscores the state-owned company’s innovative identity and ability to adapt its infrastructure for new fuel generation. Moreover, environmentally, it forms part of a circular economy system.