The Ministry of Mines and Energy has issued authorizations for two natural gas thermoelectric projects, made viable by the capacity reserve auction held in the first half of 2026.
The national electricity sector is moving forward with the regularization of new assets aimed at supply security. The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has formalized authorizations for the UTE SFE Guarani V2 and UTE Tacaimbó I 2B power plants.
Both projects were awarded in the capacity reserve auction in the form of power, held in March, reinforcing the strategy of expanding the generation base with the use of natural gas.
These units are part of a group of 65 new ventures whose viability was confirmed in the auction, and they are now taking a crucial step towards the effective start of construction. The granting of these authorizations is a critical stage to ensure that the operational entry schedule aligns with the projected demand for the electrical system in the coming years.
Structure and Investments of the New Power Plants
The UTE SFE Guarani V2 will be installed in Camaçari, Bahia state, operated by São Francisco Energia S.A. The project has an installed capacity of 155.8 MW and an estimated investment of R$ 693.8 million.
To enable its connection, the developer must construct a step-up substation and a 6.5-kilometer transmission line.
Meanwhile, the UTE Tacaimbó I 2B, located in Pernambuco state, has an installed capacity of 97.5 MW, with 92 MW contracted in the auction. The project, led by UTE Tacaimbó I Geração de Energia SA, requires an investment of R$ 437.7 million.
The energy evacuation structure will include a dedicated substation and a transmission line just over one kilometer long.
The regularization of these projects, which have 15-year supply contracts, is a positive signal for the reliability of the electrical system, consolidating the strategic role of natural gas thermal power plants in the energy planning horizon up to 2028.
Execution Schedule
The projects have strict deadlines to meet. The plant in Bahia has until October 2026 to obtain environmental licenses, with construction scheduled to begin in April 2027 and testing operations by August 2028.
In Pernambuco, the schedule requires the environmental license by March 2027 and the start of operational tests for the first quarter of 2028.
The government expects that, over the next few months, the remaining projects contracted in the LRCap will also obtain their authorizations, consolidating robust generation capacity.
With annual fixed revenues in the millions—R$ 349.9 million for SFE Guarani V2 and R$ 232 million for Tacaimbó I 2B—the ventures reinforce the market’s attractiveness for large-scale infrastructure investments in Brazil.
