The Brazilian Association of Independent Oil and Gas Producers (ABPIP) has presented presidential candidates with an agenda of proposals aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security, expanding domestic oil and natural gas production, and transforming Brazil’s energy potential into investment, jobs, and regional development. Among its proposals, the association outlines nine measures it considers priorities for the first 100 days of the next government.

The Independent Oil and Gas Producers’ Agenda for Brazil is based on the understanding that the country has energy resources, technical capabilities, and a competitive exploration and production industry, but still needs to advance the development of a more modern, predictable, and efficient regulatory environment in order to increase the sustainable use of these resources.

According to ABPIP, independent production plays a strategic role in this process by increasing operator diversity, revitalizing mature fields and marginally economic areas, extending the useful life of existing assets, and converting discovered resources into production, investment, jobs, and revenues for states and municipalities.

Priorities for the First 100 Days

The first of the nine proposed measures is the creation of a National Program for the Revitalization of Mature and Marginally Economic Fields, coordinated among the Federal Government, the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), and other public authorities. The objective is to increase investment, extend the useful life of assets, raise recovery factors, and preserve jobs, public revenues, and regional development.

ABPIP also proposes accelerating the implementation of the New Gas Law, through measures to increase competition, guarantee non-discriminatory access to essential infrastructure, harmonize state-level regulations, and encourage the expansion of the natural gas consumer market.

The third measure is the development of a National Program for the Assessment of Unconventional Resources, involving a technical assessment of Brazil’s geological potential, pilot projects, environmental monitoring, and legal certainty, in order to support evidence-based public decision-making.

The Agenda also proposes improving the sector’s business environment and legal certainty by modernizing environmental licensing, simplifying regulatory requirements, strengthening the ANP’s institutional capacity, and establishing tax conditions compatible with the economic realities of these assets.

Another priority is the creation of an Interministerial Group for the Modernization of Environmental Licensing, with the participation of environmental agencies, the productive sector, and civil society. The group would seek greater simplification, harmonization, and predictability in licensing procedures while preserving high standards of environmental protection.

The sixth measure is to strengthen the ANP institutionally by rebuilding its technical staff, ensuring regulatory stability, reducing decision-making timeframes, and enhancing mechanisms for dialogue with industry stakeholders.

ABPIP also proposes launching a National Supplier Chain Development Program, integrating industrial, innovation, and professional qualification policies to strengthen domestic suppliers, expand competitive local content, and create jobs in producing regions.

The eighth priority is to integrate oil and gas into the National Energy Transition Strategy, recognizing the role of these resources in energy security, industrial competitiveness, and reducing external dependence during the transition to a lower-carbon economy.

Finally, the Agenda proposes establishing a Permanent Government–Industry Dialogue Forum, bringing together the Federal Government, regulators, states, municipalities, and the productive sector to monitor the implementation of the proposals, identify regulatory obstacles, and develop solutions for the growth of the industry.

Mature Fields and Regional Development

One of the Agenda’s main pillars is to transform mature fields and marginally economic areas into permanent drivers of development. Although these assets experience natural production decline, they still have the potential to increase domestic production, recover reserves, attract private investment, preserve jobs, and strengthen royalty and tax revenues.

The continuation of these activities also generates impacts across the economies of producing regions by strengthening small and medium-sized companies in the supplier chain, preserving infrastructure, encouraging professional training, and creating development opportunities in hundreds of Brazilian municipalities.

For this reason, in addition to the specific national program, ABPIP advocates modernizing the regulatory framework through requirements proportionate to the size, risk profile, and economic viability of the assets, as well as simplifying procedures and establishing regulatory and tax mechanisms that encourage reinvestment and extend the useful life of fields.

Gas, Competitiveness, and Energy Security

Natural gas also occupies a central position in the Agenda. The association advocates consolidating natural gas as a driver of industrial competitiveness, reindustrialization, and the expansion of development beyond the main economic centers through the full implementation of the New Gas Law and increased competition and access to essential infrastructure.

ABPIP also proposes that the next government strengthen domestic oil and gas production as a permanent instrument of energy security. Its guidelines include incorporating mature fields and marginally economic areas into national energy planning, establishing a permanent policy to strengthen domestic production, and integrating energy, industrial, regional, and technological development policies.

Five Strategic Commitments

In addition to the nine measures proposed for the first 100 days, the Agenda establishes five strategic commitments to guide the next government’s energy policy:

• Strengthen energy security by expanding domestic production;
• Transform mature fields and marginally economic areas into permanent instruments of regional development;
• Consolidate natural gas as a driver of competitiveness and reindustrialization;
• Modernize the business environment; and
• Pursue a pragmatic and competitive energy transition.

For ABPIP, the discussion extends beyond the interests of the oil and gas industry. The association maintains that expanding independent production can preserve jobs, strengthen production chains, increase royalty and tax revenues, stimulate regional economies, and contribute to energy supply security.

“This is an agenda aimed at transforming Brazil’s energy potential into development. The next government will have the opportunity to create the conditions to produce more in Brazil, attract investment, generate jobs, and strengthen producing regions, with legal certainty and environmental responsibility. Independent production can make a significant contribution to this process,” says Márcio Felix, president of ABPIP.

The Agenda also includes a map of bills currently under consideration in the National Congress that could affect independent production and states that ABPIP is available to the next Federal Government, the Legislative Branch, and regulatory agencies to provide technical support for the implementation of the proposals.