Brazil passes natural gas law to attract investors, cut red tape
RIO DE JANERIO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s lower house approved a new regulatory framework for the natural gas sector in the early hours of Wednesday, March 17th, a move the government hopes will increase competition in the industry.
The bill, previously passed by the Senate, which had garnered support from industrial consumers, will now be signed into law by President Jair Bolsonaro.
“In this difficult moment, this approval bodes well for the economy,” said Paulo Pedrosa, president of Abrace, an industry group of large energy users. He said the new law would help attract new investments to the sector and increase predictability.
Read: Analysis – Argentina and Brazil could become major world players in natural gas trade
Under the bill, companies interested in building gas pipelines will need a simple authorization rather than a more complex concession contract. Energy regulator ANP will have more power to foster competition and reduce market concentration.
The new law allows power companies to distribute gas for industrial use, an area that used to be under state monopoly.
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