Brazil: Committee for the Promotion of Competition in the Natural Gas Market Created

The Brazilian National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) announced the official creation of the Committee to Promote Competition of the Natural Gas Market, bringing together the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), the National Petroleum Agency , and the Energy Research Company (EPE), with the aim of promoting greater openness in the sector.

The Ministry of Economy has received a proposal from the Getulio Vargas Foundation for the gas market, including a plan for Petrobras to sell its transportation assets and in the distribution of gas, anticipating the end of the exclusivity held by the State-owned company in controlling pipelines and other means of transport.

The study also proposes breaking up the state monopoly on distribution, starting with the regions most easily served by the development of free and independent consumers, self-producers and importers.