Why they're Hot: Petrobras – #14 so far (#18 last year)

The Latest News: Petrobras announced in November that it has set up an ethanol distribution network with five companies including Cosan SA Industria e Comercio SA, 20%; Copersucar SA, 20%; Odebrecht Transport Participacoes SA, 20%; Camargo Correa Oleo e Gas SA, 10% and Uniduto Logistica SA, 10% at a total of $58 million. All of the companies except for Copersucar have already carried out studies on ethanol pipeline distribution projects.

The Digest’s Take: Readers are waking up to the seriousness of Petrobras’ interest in dominating in both first-generation ethanol and in developing advanced bioenergy options.