Agreement in Rio de Janeiro unlocks migration to the free gas market.
Rio de Janeiro’s energy sector is celebrating a major milestone with the officialization of an agreement between Naturgy and Agenersa, the state regulatory agency, aimed at unlocking the migration of large industrial consumers to the free natural gas market. The negotiation, which also involved the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro, ends a legal dispute and paves the way for greater competitiveness and development in the sector.
The core of the pact allows industries with a daily consumption of 10,000 cubic meters or more to transition to the free market. This change meets a long-standing demand from major consumers seeking greater flexibility and better conditions in purchasing natural gas directly from production sources.
A New Chapter for Rio’s Gas Market
The formalization of the agreement brings a wave of optimism to Rio de Janeiro’s gas market. The resolution puts an end to legal stalemates and establishes clear guidelines for migration while striving to preserve the interests of consumers who remain in the captive market.
The new arrangement provides for the continuity of migration processes that had already been initiated, avoiding the need to restart steps and deadlines. Agenersa will be responsible for analyzing the tariff margins of the new free consumers and any contractual imbalances.
Guarantees and Predictability
To ensure system stability, the agreement sets conditions for consumers wishing to return to the captive market. Such a transition will only be permitted if it generates no additional costs for other consumers. Furthermore, the regulator will conduct studies to monitor the effects of migration on supply contracts and its impact on the captive market.
The signing of this agreement comes at a crucial moment for Naturgy, whose concession in the state of Rio de Janeiro expires in mid-2027. The company is seeking a contract extension, a request that has previously faced unfavorable opinions from bodies such as the Court of Auditors of the State of Rio de Janeiro (TCE-RJ). Currently, the distributor’s network includes five large consumers already operating in the free market, moving more than 1.7 million cubic meters of gas daily.
The controversy that led to the agreement dates back to the original concession contract signed in 1997, which established a consumption limit of 100,000 cubic meters per day for direct gas purchases. With the update of the natural gas regulatory framework, defined in 2020 by the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE), this threshold was lowered to 10,000 cubic meters, opening the door to new negotiations and the agreement celebrated today.
