BRASILIA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazil has been focusing on the research and development of renewable energy since the 1970s and has achieved remarkable results.

    Latest research results revealed that thanks to the country's application of a variety of renewable energy and its arduous efforts to protect its rain forest, the carbon dioxide emission in Brazil has reduced 2 billion tons over the past four years.

    Covering a total area of 8.51 million square kilometers, Brazil has a rangeland of more than 200 million hectares, a farmland of 6.2 million hectares and 100 million hectares of unexploited land. It has the natural resources to expand the plantation of energy crops in addition to ensuring grain production.

    The Brazilian authorities have been encouraging its people to use fuel ethanol through government subsidies, quotas and price interventions as well as helping enterprises get loans from international financial institutions.

    In cities and towns with a population of more than 1,500, gas stations are required to install ethanol petrol pumps and those who do not follow the rule will be punished accordingly.

    As the interest in fuel ethanol grows in many countries, the Brazilian government has formulated an even more ambitious plan to produce fuel ethanol. Under the project, Brazil's annual fuel ethanol production aims to increase to 35 billion liters in 2013, doubling its current production of 17 billion, and about 10 billion will be exported.

    In recent years, Brazil has also actively developed its biofuel technology. To encourage the use of biofuel, the government in 2003 announced a plan to boost nationwide production and use of biodiesel.

    Starting from July 1, 2009, the Brazilian biodiesel law increased the percentage of biofuel mixed in diesel oil to 3 percent from the previous 2 percent, and in 2010, the percentage will be increased to 5 percent.

    With government support, Brasil Ecodiesel was established in 2003. In 2006, the company developed into the largest biodiesel company in Brazil with an annual production capacity of 840 million liters and six branches in the country. It is estimated that the company's annual production would reach 1 billion liters in 2008 and 2.4 billion liters in 2013.

    Meanwhile, the biodiesel project initiated by the Brazilian government has also lifted many agricultural households out of poverty. Brasil Ecodiesel has signed contracts with many farmers, pledging to purchase their agricultural produces and provide seeds, farm tools and technical support for them.

    By far, nearly 100,000 Brazilian agricultural households have participated in the national project on the production and use of biodiesel and the country's oil-plant plantation has exceeded 500,000 hectares.