Minister Boulos attends CNPE meeting to discuss waste utilization and energy transition.
The National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) will convene this Friday, November 6, 2026, for a significant meeting that will address the energy recovery of waste, the shift to cleaner sources, and the future of electromobility in Brazil. The meeting, the first after the re-election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is expected to set important guidelines for national energy policy.
A key item on the agenda is the discussion on the energy valorization of waste. To that end, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, which chairs the CNPE, extended an invitation to Minister Guilherme Boulos of the General Secretariat. Boulos’s participation is strategic, as he is the government’s social coordinator and can represent the interests of material collectors, essential to the reuse chain.
Exploring the Energy Potential of Waste
Energy valorization of waste involves converting discarded materials into energy or energy products. The federal government intends to discuss using these inputs to generate electricity, heat, steam, biogas, biomethane, biofuels, and even low‑carbon hydrogen and synthetic fuels.
This initiative aims to align with the newly regulated Brazilian Emissions Trading System, establishing the country’s regulated carbon market and driving mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The executive secretary of the Interministerial Committee for Socioeconomic Inclusion of Reusable and Recyclable Material Collectors, Lea Rocchi Sales, was also invited to the meeting, reinforcing the commitment to social inclusion in this process.
Green Agenda and Preparations for COP31
The CNPE, a collegiate body of 21 ministers chaired by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, will also devote part of its agenda to energy transition and sustainability. The expectation is that resolutions advancing these agendas will be approved, especially on the eve of President Lula’s trip to COP31 in Turkey.
Guidelines for the National Energy Transition Plan (PLANTE) will be discussed, along with the formation of a dedicated working group for this policy. Additionally, the council will address the internal roadmap for the country’s decarbonization, a document awaiting presidential approval.
On November 3, Brazil presented its proposal for the global decarbonization map, which will be taken to the international conference. Another key agenda item for the CNPE is the creation of a working group focused on e‑mobility.
An official source stated:
Integrating new technologies and valuing all social actors are essential to build a cleaner, fairer energy future for Brazil.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy has already opened a public consultation on electric vehicle charging infrastructure and its integration with power grids, underscoring the government’s focus on accelerating the adoption of less polluting vehicles.
The CNPE meeting marks an important step in shaping energy policies that align with global sustainability challenges and the need to innovate in the sector. Decisions made at this session will directly influence Brazil’s path toward a low‑carbon economy and its participation in international forums such as COP31.