The negative effects of the new coronavirus pandemic did not prevent Copergás from breaking investment and customer acquisition records in 2020. It invested R $ 56 million, one of the highest volumes in the Company's 28-year history, and exceeded the goal of increasing clientele planned for the year. The projected was to win 7,149 customers, but at the end of December, the total reached was 7,569 - equivalent to 106% of the target. There were 7,413 residential interconnections, 10 industries, 133 new commercial establishments and 13 new gas stations with natural gas (CNG).

Copergás' numbers were also positive in other areas, such as operational indicators, extension of the gas pipeline network and commercialization of the non-thermal volume of natural gas. In all of these segments, the achievement of the planned goals reached a percentage higher than 90%. Another highlight was that of work safety, with 379 days without lost-time accidents (it has already exceeded 400, including the first days of January 2021).

These data are contained in a report concluded by the Technical-Commercial Directorate (DTC) of the Company, detailing the indicators obtained in 2020. "This result is the result of the effort of all Copergás employees", said the technical-commercial director, Fabrício Bomtempo. “We are facing a year of many challenges and, even so, we have met our goals. We entered 2021 with optimism and the challenge of overcoming our success in 2020 ”, he added.

DTC's work also presents the Company's goals for 2021. The planned investment for this year is R $ 66.8 million. For the gas pipeline network, currently 932 km, the plan is to build another 116.5 km. The expansion involves several projects, in the capital and inland, such as Camaragibe-Carpina, Petrolina and Garanhuns (local network) and Caruaru, among others. In relation to the customer portfolio, it is projected to win 9,675 - including 15 industries and 10 service stations.

Copergás President André Campos highlighted the role of the Company as an inducer of the development of the State. “We are convinced that Copergás contributed to the positive GDP figures for Pernambuco, which, despite the difficulties created by the pandemic, grew in 2020, with an emphasis on the industrial sector. We will continue this strategy of taking the advantages of natural gas to the entire state, consolidating our position where we already have a network and opening new frontiers, with pioneering initiatives such as the local network project in Garanhuns and Petrolina ”.