ANP Director Pietro Mendes pushes back against criticism regarding the pace of gas sector regulation, emphasizing that all actions strictly follow current legislation and TCU directives.
Amidst intense pressure from various market stakeholders, the director of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), Pietro Mendes, has spoken out to defend the autonomy and legality of the agency’s regulatory agenda.
The discussions center on structural measures for the natural gas sector, which have frequently faced scrutiny from companies wary of the rapid pace of changes.
Mendes assured that there is no external interference or rush in the agency’s decision-making processes.
On the contrary, the executive maintains that the ANP is working to address a historical regulatory deficit, relying entirely on the 2021 Gas Law and recommendations issued by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU).
The role of gas release and the pursuit of competition
One of the most sensitive points causing market resistance is the gas release program, which aims to reduce market concentration.
For the ANP director, this initiative is essential for Brazil to transition into a truly competitive gas market, breaking the dominance of single players and promoting fairer pricing.
In addition to private sector resistance, the debate over the role of the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) has also gained prominence.
Mendes clarified that the council’s definition of policy guidelines should not be confused with interference in regulation. According to him, there is a clear distinction between setting national energy policy and the technical competence of the regulatory agency in implementing standards.
What we are doing is complying with the law. There is no rushing; we are simply exercising our powers to unlock a sector that needs predictability and competition to evolve.
Alignment with the Ministry of Mines and Energy
Pietro Mendes‘ position has received direct support from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
Marcello Weydt, director of the ministry’s Natural Gas Department, reinforced that the market deconcentration project is a core strategy to reduce energy costs for the end consumer, acting as an engine for new investments.
Regulatory clashes are expected to continue in the coming months as the ANP moves forward with regulating third-party access to transport and processing systems.
The success of this agenda will be decisive in consolidating the opening of the gas market and ensuring that regulatory changes effectively translate into practical benefits for the Brazilian economy and consumers.
