The ANP seeks to decentralize natural gas supply in Brazil through a bidding program, aiming for greater liquidity and competitiveness in the sector, despite Petrobras‘ resistance.
Brazil’s energy sector is at a turning point. Following the advancements brought by the New Gas Law, the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP) has initiated a new phase in market regulation by opening a public consultation for the proposed implementation of the so-called Gas Release. This mechanism aims to untangle the concentration knots in the wholesale market, allowing other agents to access volumes controlled by Petrobras.
The initiative, formalized by Public Consultation and Hearing No. 16/2026, does not seek to increase the physical extraction of the commodity but rather to unlock competition. The regulator understands that, although the scenario has changed, significant barriers still prevent more transparent price formation and hinder the entry of new players into the supply chain.
The clash between regulation and corporate strategy
Petrobras, on the other hand, maintains a critical stance regarding the suggested model. In meetings with the Chief of Staff’s Office, the state-owned company’s executives argued that the market already exhibits adequate levels of competition, citing the reduction of its share in the non-thermoelectric gas sector to about 56%. The company fears that state intervention could discourage future investments by directly interfering with its commercialization strategy.
“The objective of Gas Release programs is not to increase physical production but to expand competitor access, increase liquidity, and facilitate the entry of new suppliers into the wholesale market,” explain specialists observing experiences in countries like Germany, Italy, and Austria.
Limits and challenges of the energy transition
To mitigate investment risks, the ANP‘s proposal presents a cautious design. The program foresees a strictly transitional nature, with annual auctions planned for the period between 2027 and 2030, in addition to preserving the portion of production exclusively owned by Petrobras, focusing only on volumes the company holds from third parties.
The success of this measure will essentially depend on the country’s ability to create robust transportation and processing infrastructure, as well as foster the emergence of new aggregators and long-term contracts. The authorities’ final goal is ambitious: to transform the gas market into an environment so liquid and self-sustaining that the Gas Release mechanism itself becomes unnecessary over time.
