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Bahiagás is once again taking part in Bahia Oil & Gas Energy, an international gathering focused on the oil and gas sector in Brazil’s North and Northeast. Held from May 27 to 29 at the Salvador Convention Center, the event brings together representatives from the energy chain in a program featuring conferences, an exhibition area, business meetings, and thematic arenas, fostering debates on the challenges and prospects of the natural gas market in the country.

On the first day of the event, the company’s CEO, Luiz Gavazza, took part in the GasNor Conference, on the panel “Natural Gas Sector Outlook,” alongside representatives from Eneva, Sinergas, MDC Energia, Origem Energia, and TAG, moderated by Marcelo Alfradique, Deputy Superintendent of Oil and Natural Gas at the Energy Research Company (EPE). Gavazza highlighted the strategic role of natural gas in Brazil’s energy transition process. “It is necessary to address the possible energy diversification based on the potential Brazil has across all energy segments,” he said.

The CEO also emphasized that dialogue among the various players in the energy chain is essential for sector development. “If each link in the chain seeks to develop dialogue with the others, we will achieve ever greater development,” he noted. He reinforced that Bahiagás, as a mixed-capital company, has been working to expand the interiorization of natural gas in the state and strengthen integration between gas and renewable energy sources.

According to Gavazza, Bahia holds a strategic position in the national energy landscape. “The oil and gas industry was born in Bahia. Today we have an important hub for natural gas production and movement, as well as a diversified industrial park that makes the state one of the largest gas-consuming markets in Brazil,” he said. He pointed out that natural gas accounts for about 10% of Bahia’s energy matrix and more than 31% of the state’s industrial energy consumption, figures above the national average.

During the panel, the CEO also presented the company’s progress in contracting natural gas supply. Today, 89% of Bahiagás’ portfolio comes from onshore production in Brazil’s Northeast, with about 60% originating from Bahia production. “When I took over as CEO of the company in 2015, we had a volume below 1.4 million cubic meters per day. Today we are back to operating above 2 million cubic meters per day, the result of market strengthening and supply diversification,” he said.

Another point addressed was the role of natural gas and biomethane in building a safer and more sustainable energy matrix. “There is no energy transition without energy security. Brazil has one of the richest energy matrices in the world and needs to make balanced use of all its energy resources,” Gavazza stated. He also cited projects focused on biomethane production in inland Bahia and public-private partnership initiatives to boost regional development.

At the end of his participation, the CEO stressed the importance of energy infrastructure planning at the national level and the role of state distribution companies in expanding the natural gas market. “More energy means more industry, more competitiveness, and more development. Bahia has shown it can grow sustainably, expanding investments and strengthening its strategic position in Brazil’s energy landscape,” he concluded.