Major industries in Minas Gerais seek flexibility and lower costs in natural gas consumption, prompting Gasmig to create digital solutions for the secondary market.
Large industrial groups in the mining and steel sectors in Minas Gerais are pushing for new conditions in energy supply. The pursuit of competitive tariffs, contractual freedom, and reduced bureaucracy in accessing the free market were key topics in debates promoted by Gasmig.
During the corporate meeting held in Belo Horizonte, the Minas Gerais distributor revealed that demands vary according to the operational profile of giants such as Vale, Gerdau, and Usiminas.
To meet this diversity of requirements without imposing a single model, the concessionaire is preparing a digital ecosystem focused on trading surplus gas and flexible guarantees.
Digital Innovation and Secondary Market
Fluctuations in industrial production often lead to idle contracted volumes or financial penalties for excess consumption.
Gasmig‘s main technological response will be a digital platform equipped with artificial intelligence to intermediate the buying and selling of surplus gas in the secondary market.
Currently, the distribution of surplus gas between factories occurs manually. The goal of the new portal is to automate the process of matching supply and demand without intermediation costs for the molecule.
In addition to the digital tool, new contractual models are being studied to offer greater dynamism to clients who enter into long-term partnerships.
The president of Gasmig, Gustavo De Marchi, stated:
There is nothing more complex in the entire acquisition process than buying gas. Contracts are very rigid. The penalty package makes a big difference.
Industrial Decarbonization Potential
Gasmig distributes approximately 2.7 million cubic meters of natural gas daily, of which about 70% already belong to the free commercialization environment.
In the steel segment, consumption jumped from 400 million cubic meters in 2016 to levels exceeding 600 million cubic meters projected for 2025.
In mining, usage decreased from 130 million cubic meters annually in 2018 to about 60 million cubic meters, revealing ample room for market recovery.
Energy accounts for about 16% of the mining sector’s energy matrix, while diesel oil still represents 19%, making it the primary target for sustainable replacement.
Solutions involving natural gas and biomethane are gaining traction in heavy vehicle fleets, thermal processes, off-grid supply, and green steel production with a lower carbon footprint.
The transition to cleaner sources and the modernization of contractual rules position natural gas as a strategic vector for the sustainability of the mining industry.
With the automation of secondary market trading and the future integration of biomethane, the state solidifies its position at the forefront of energy efficiency and industrial decarbonization.
