The Mines and Energy Department plans to launch later this first semester, the Gaucho Incentive Program for the Generation and Use of Biomethane (RS-gas). The Draft Law No. 46/2016 establishing the program has already been approved by the Committee on Constitution and Justice (CCJ) of the Legislative Assembly and are ready to go to the vote in plenary.

With the program, the department proposes to expand the natural gas supply to those regions that are not served today by the Brazil-Bolivia pipeline, thereby providing the RS population access to an alternative source of gas and energy, in addition to enabling the generation of employment and income. Another important aspect of the program is that it allows the waste from agriculture have a correct destination, which often does not occur in rural properties.

The Sulgás estimates that the Rio Grande do Sul is able to produce about 1.15 million cubic meters per day, which corresponds to 15% of the state natural gas production. With this incentive, the state creates favorable scenarios for the generation of biomethane in the RS. Therefore, special credit lines will be created for projects of this nature with the BRDE and Badesul and created public-private partnerships to develop the chain.

For the Secretary of Mines and Energy, Lucas Redecker, the program goes far beyond the biomethane generation. "The RS-Gas will be synonymous with development for the producing regions," he said.

The program was designed by the Mines and Energy Secretary in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, Science and Technology (Sdect), Rural Development Department, Fisheries and Cooperatives (SDR), Secretary of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Sema) and Gas Company of RS (Sulgás).

Among the benefits of biomethane production encouraged by RS-Gas we can highlight three fundamental aspects:

Environmental benefits

The program aims to increase the share of renewable sources in the matrix, following an international sustainability logic, thus reducing the emission of gases into the atmosphere. The production of bio-methane is given by the treatment of organic waste, which means that they are not deposited on the ground. In addition, the waste product can be used for fertilizer production.

Economic benefits

With the demand for production naturally occurs internalization of natural gas, which is currently imported from Bolivia and focuses on the areas through which the pipeline pass. In addition, production accelerates the development of the regions, not only for gas generation but the investments that may arise from it, bringing the production source closer to the consumer. It will also allow increased primary production, with the proper disposal of waste.

Social benefits

The production of biomethane can be a source of extra income for producers, generating jobs and income in agribusiness. By design, the government may also provide the addition of a minimum percentage of biomethane to gas commercialized in Rio Grande do Sul. The secretary explained that biogas enables some rural entrepreneurs who today find it difficult to increase production to overcome these obstacles. Another point highlighted by the Secretary is that the biomethane will give a new gas supply option to Rio Grande do Sul, now dependent on Bolivian natural gas, which arrives in the region by the Bolivia-Brazil pipeline (Gasbol). Therefore, the project intent is to serve mainly those regions that are not supplied by the pipeline.