Brazilian Oil Giant Tests Cardano Tech

Brazilian state-controlled energy giant Petrobras has introduced two new blockchain applications built on Cardano, designed to streamline the tracking of lower-carbon fuels. On Friday, the Cardano Foundation revealed its collaboration with Petrobras and Ledger Labs, the blockchain research center at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, focusing on initiatives for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and Diesel R, Petrobras’ renewable-content diesel product.

The first application addresses the challenge of verifying who holds the rights to claim environmental benefits tied to a specific volume of SAF. Cardano serves as an auditable ledger for these claims utilizing tokens. Initially, certificates are validated against CORSIA and other standards before their attributes are tokenized. These resulting tokens can subsequently be assigned to airlines or individual passenger trips.

The second application connects data produced across various phases of the fuel’s lifecycle, linking stages that cover production, transportation, and final consumption of the renewable fuel.

This project builds upon an existing relationship between Petrobras and Cardano. The Cardano Foundation initially made their partnership public in December 2023 through an education-focused program that trained Petrobras employees on blockchain concepts and potential enterprise use cases. Petrobras notably became the first Forbes 500 company to utilize Cardano’s infrastructure, having previously tested the technology for internal administrative tasks. While Petrobras is not adopting ADA as a payment method, the utilization of Cardano’s blockchain for infrastructure by a major corporation remains a significant milestone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the new Cardano-based applications used for?

They are designed to make tracking lower-carbon fuels—specifically sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and Diesel R—much more efficient by verifying environmental claims and linking lifecycle data.

Who collaborated with Petrobras on these applications?

The Cardano Foundation worked alongside Petrobras and Ledger Labs, the blockchain research center at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.

Is Petrobras adopting ADA for payments?

No, Petrobras is not adopting ADA as a payment asset, but is instead using Cardano’s blockchain technology for infrastructure.

What was the nature of the previous partnership between Petrobras and Cardano?

Announced in December 2023, the initial partnership was education-focused, teaching Petrobras employees about blockchain concepts and enterprise-level applications. Petrobras also previously tested Cardano for internal administrative purposes.