(Argus, 15.Feb.2022) — Brazil will be a natural gas net importer for the next ten years, says Petrobras executive Álvaro Tupiassú during the 2nd Brazil Gas Summit.
Brazil’s new gas law is important because it stimulates an open and competitive market, with new contracts and agents, said Tupiassú. Petrobras is still dedicated to establishing a structured and competitive environment, he said, even though the international gas crisis presents some challenges to the market opening.
Petrobras is not the country’s only natural gas supplier, and, with the market opening, the state-owned company expects an increase in its supplier pool. There are currently nine companies besides Petrobras, with gas supply contracts to distributors and free consumers in Brazil.
Brazilian gas demand averaged 93mn m³/d from January to November 2021, according to the most recent data from the ministry of mines and energy. National production was 51mn m³/d during that period, and imports were 46mn m³/d from Bolivia and LNG.
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By Rebecca Gompertz
