Investments in confirmed and potential projects in the natural gas value chain in the state of Rio may exceed R$ 110 billion in an estimated ten-year horizon. The period considers companies' strategic plans, the viability of consumption projects and the perspective of natural gas production. This is what the fifth edition of the study "Prospects for Gas in Rio" points out, released by Firjan SENAI last Wednesday, the 7th. The publication also highlights that, in the industry alone, potential projects totaling more than 30 million of cubic meters of natural gas consumption per day, meaning investments of around R$ 60 billion (54.5% of the total).

By highlighting the importance of investments to meet demands in the context of decarbonization and the potential of the state of Rio, Firjan SENAI highlights in the study the need for public policies to increase the competitiveness of natural gas and defends better regulatory alignment for the project development. The institution points out that access to new producers, the ease of contracting transport and distribution, access to the free market and the possibility of building distribution pipelines dedicated to supply are some pro-market mechanisms that should compose better regulation.

At the study's launch event, at Firjan's headquarters, Raul Sanson, vice-president of the federation, reinforced the relevance of natural gas in the coming years. "We are convinced that, regardless of the speed at which fossil sources are replaced by renewable energies, the energy transition depends on the increase in demand for natural gas, and for a long time to come. With that in mind, Firjan SENAI launches today the fifth edition of " Gas Perspectives in Rio", highlighting the importance of gas in the context of decarbonization and its integration with energies", said Sanson.

The coordinator of Strategic Content for Petroleum, Gas and Naval at Firjan, Fernando Montera, in addition to presenting the new study and the updated market data available in the federation's "Dynamic Panel", highlighted the "Natural Gas Distribution Tariff Calculator" . Firjan SENAI's new tool simulates the cost of the input and the total amount of the consumer's bill by segment - residential, commercial, industrial and Natural Gas (CNG) - according to their consumption volume and the latest ruling in force in each Federative unit. When filling in the consumption, the average value of the gas tariff is automatically calculated, allowing comparison with other state distributors.

Institutions address the future of natural gas

The launch event of the study "Gas Perspectives in Rio" brought together professionals who addressed the future of natural gas in Brazil and worldwide. The director of Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuel Studies at the Energy Research Company (EPE), Heloisa Esteves (photo), reinforced that the market is growing. The director of EPE also highlighted the opportunities. "I have no doubt that natural gas remains in the world's energy matrix for at least another hundred years. It certainly remains in the Brazilian energy matrix", said Heloisa Esteves.
The director of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), Fernando Moura, stated that, in order to increase the flexibility of the transport service between agents, the ANP approved eight new products in the last nine months, all of which are now being offered as off-the-shelf products through an electronic platform. "This was reflected in a significant increase in the number of signed transport contracts", said Fernando Moura, who also addressed regulatory advances that will be addressed from next year, with autonomy and independence in the transport of natural gas among the issues.
The Vice President of Marketing, Midstream and Processing at Equinor, Cláudia Brun, highlighted advances in the last year and stressed the importance of changes in market regulation to provide predictability to the investor, since the projects for the production and flow of natural gas do not happen in the short term.

The director ESG, Sustainability, Institutional Relations, Government Relations at Prumo, Eduardo Kantz, also spoke about the opportunities. "We are in a very particular moment here in Brazil, a moment of transition for natural gas", pointed out Kantz. He also highlighted the importance of Firjan's role at this moment.