The ANP is reshaping its internal structure by dissolving the SAG and creating the SPT, consolidating energy transition responsibilities and streamlining auction and environmental licensing processes.
The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) announced a strategic change to its internal regulations, formalized by Ordinance 388/2026. Starting November 20, the agency will no longer have the Superintendency of Geological and Economic Assessment (SAG), redistributing its duties to enhance efficiency in procurement rounds and sector oversight.
This restructuring reflects the agency’s need to adapt to new global and national demands, prioritizing innovation and monitoring alternative energy sources. By centralizing previously dispersed functions, the ANP aims to increase agility in communication with regulatory bodies and accelerate decarbonization projects.
Consolidation of Responsibilities in the SPL
The agency’s core move is the absorption of SAG activities by the Superintendency of Auction Promotion (SPL). With this change, the SPL now controls the assessment of petroleum potential and exploration risks in sedimentary basins, integrating geological analyses into the economic studies that guide the tenders.
The SPL also adopts a more robust technical agenda, including geological analysis for underground natural gas storage, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and mapping of natural hydrogen potential in the country. Additionally, the superintendency will serve as the agency’s liaison with the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), as well as with Ibama and ICMBio.
“The goal is to optimize the interface with environmental agencies, centralizing the search for opinions, monitoring of licensing, and analysis of development plans on a single front, providing greater predictability for sector projects.”
Focus on Energy Transition and R&D
The former Superintendence of Technology and Environment (STM) is renamed the Superintendence of Research, Innovation and Energy Transition (SPT). This new unit will be the hub of the ANP‘s Research, Development and Innovation (R&D) policy, responsible for overseeing mandatory investments made by oil companies.
At the same time, the Superintendence of Exploration (SEP) expands its scope to review requests for contract extensions or suspensions in cases of environmental licensing delays. This shift of responsibilities aims to decentralize specific demands and ensure that the SPT can focus entirely on the innovation pillars that will support the national energy transition.
With these changes implemented, the ANP envisions a scenario of greater alignment among technical, economic and environmental requirements. The expectation is that centralizing at the SPL will reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, allowing the agency to monitor the market’s evolution and the challenges posed by new sustainable energy projects with greater rigor.