Eneva, the largest private natural gas operator in Brazil, and Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Brasil, two of the country’s leading mining companies, have signed a contract for the supply of natural gas in the free market to the Ubu Complex in Espírito Santo.

The agreement, which begins on January 1, 2025, has a three-year duration. The gas supply will be gradual, with 40% of the volume to be consumed by Samarco in 2025, 25% in 2026, and 15% in 2027.

Samarco’s migration to the free market increases its access to more competitive and sustainable energy, reinforcing its commitment to efficient practices and resulting in significant savings compared to the regulated market. With the new contract, Samarco will have 75% of its gas consumption supplied through the free market, a significant increase from the previous 10%.

Currently, Samarco operates with 60% of its installed production capacity and has a plan to reach 100% capacity by 2028. "We are continuing our gradual recovery and focusing on sustainable growth. With the increase in installed capacity, Samarco expects to produce 15 million tons of iron ore pellets and fines in 2025. Strategic partnerships, such as this one for gas supply with Eneva, ensure greater competitiveness for our product and ultimately contribute to local economic development," said Ailana Vilela, General Manager of Supply at Samarco.

For Eneva, the partnership reinforces the company's strategic role in the development of Brazil’s natural gas free market, expanding its client portfolio and contributing to the competitiveness of the national industry. "This contract is a milestone that positions Eneva as the leading gas supplier in the pipeline for mining companies and expands its objective of developing partnerships in the gas market with new industries in other sectors. The partnership represents an opportunity to showcase our innovative solutions and meet each customer’s needs," highlighted Marcelo Lopes, Director of Marketing, Commercialization, and New Business at Eneva.

The partnership with Samarco strengthens strategic development in the gas and energy market in Espírito Santo, where Eneva also has a supply contract with Vale and operates three thermal power generation assets: Povoação, Viana, and Linhares, which were recently acquired.

Eneva’s "on-grid" natural gas operations are made possible by the main gas transportation networks in the country, managed by the transporters NTS, TBG, and TAG, efficiently and securely connecting the South, Southeast, and Northeast regions of Brazil.

About Eneva

Eneva is a private onshore natural gas operator in Brazil, playing a key role in the country’s energy security. The company is involved in exploration, production, and energy supply, operating 15 natural gas fields in the Parnaíba (MA) and Amazonas (AM) Basins, covering an area of over 63,000 km², the largest in Brazil. Eneva has a generation portfolio with 6.8 GW of contracted capacity, including thermoelectric plants in the states of Maranhão, Ceará, Sergipe, Roraima, Espírito Santo, and the Futura Solar Complex in Bahia.

About Samarco

Samarco is a privately held mining company, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Brasil. Based in Belo Horizonte (MG), it has operational units in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. The company’s main product is iron ore pellets, a key raw material for steel production in the steel industry. With 47 years in operation, Samarco resumed its operations in 2020, utilizing new technologies and enhanced safety measures.