"Low carbon energy will play an increasingly significant role in meeting world energy demand," BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said in a company statement announcing the deal.

"BP is committed to producing biofuels to help meet this demand. Today's transaction also fits BP's strategy of increasing our exposure to growing energy markets," he added. Ethanol, made using sugar, is widely used in Brazil as a cheaper alternative to gasoline, or motor fuel. BP chief executive Bob Dudley said the Brazilian deal was the biggest acquisition to date for BP Alternative Energy.