Socio-economic Analysis of a Biodiesel Plant

The aim of this work was to carry out a socio-economic analysis for the implementation of a biodiesel plant in the state of Maranhão taking into account technical economic and socio-environmental concepts. In order to set up the biodiesel plant in Maranhão a survey was carried out of the main raw materials available with a view to selecting the most promising raw material as well as favorable regions for biodiesel production. Afterwards the available workforce and the existence of cooperatives in the potential biodiesel plant installation region were analyzed. Next an economic analysis of biodiesel production was carried out and at the end the socio-economic impact on the cooperative members of setting up a biodiesel plant in the region was estimated. Also based on fixed and variable costs financial income and payback within the forecast of sales of biodiesel and its by-products the project was analyzed and simulated to fit into the PRONAF credit line.