The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) held this Thursday (08/06) the 34th Ordinary Meeting of the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE). The meeting was chaired by Minister Fernando Coelho Filho and was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Blairo Maggi, as well as members of CNPE.

At the meeting, the areas in which Petrobras manifested the preemptive right to operate as operator with a minimum participation of 30% in consortiums formed for exploration and production in the 2nd and 3rd Round of Production Sharing Bidding were presented. Among the areas are the Campo de Sapinhoá, as well as the prospects of Peroba and Alto de Cabo Frio. Both rounds are scheduled for October 27, in which the Union expects to raise R $ 7.75 billion as a signing bonus for the contracts, if the eight areas offered are sold off.

Another highlight was the inclusion of areas in the Bidding Blocks for oil and natural gas blocks of 2018, in order to increase the competitiveness of the bids. Sectors were included in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin and in the Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin in the 15th Round of Bids of exploratory blocks under the concession regime, scheduled for May 2018.

The CNPE also anticipated for the 15th Round of Bids an area of the Campos Basin, and also postponed, in the Campos Basin, an area for the 16th Round of Bids. For the 4th round of Block Tenders under the Production Sharing Regime, an area was included to the south of the Uirapuru prospect.

The Board also approved the policy for the restructuring of the refinery and oil derivatives market in the field of Combustible Brazil, as well as the creation of the Integrated Technical Committee for the Development of the Fuel Market, Other Petroleum Derivatives and Biofuels (CT-CB) .

For the RenovaBio, the strategic guidelines were approved and a Working Group was set up with the mission to evaluate and elaborate proposals for normative revisions necessary for the implementation of the Program. The Ethanol and Biodiesel Supply Monitoring Committees were also created to systematically monitor and evaluate the market for these biofuels.

The discussions also debated the possible anticipation for March 2018 of the blend of biodiesel and diesel (B10).

Check below the main points deliberated in the CNPE:

Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Policy

The CNPE approved general guidelines for the Policy for the Exploration and Production of Oil and Natural Gas. Among them are the maximization of the recovery of the in situ resources of the reservoirs; Quantification of the national oil potential; Intensification of exploratory activities in the country; And adequate promotion of monetization of existing reserves.

The proposed guidelines are aimed at attracting and maintaining investments, with more plurality of agents, using the best practices and technologies of the industry and with respect to the environment.

Petrobras as operator in the 2nd and 3rd Bidding Round

Petrobras will have the right to operate as an operator and hold a minimum of 30% in consortiums formed for exploration and production in the uninhabitable area adjacent to the Sapinhoá Field, as well as in the areas of the Peroba and Alto de Cabo Frio prospects, which will be tendered Respectively in the second and third rounds of bids under production sharing arrangements.

Planning bidding rounds for 2018 and 2019

CNPE approved the following changes for the planning of rounds of oil and natural gas block bids:

· Inclusion of the SSEAL-AUP1 and SSEAL-AUP2 Sectors of the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin and the SPEPB-AP3 Sector, of the Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin, in the Fifteenth Round of Bids for exploratory blocks under the concession regime, scheduled for May 2018;

. Anticipation of the supply of the SC-AP5 Sector, from the Campos Basin, from the Sixteenth to the Fifteenth Round of Bids for exploratory blocks under the concession regime, scheduled for May 2018;

· Postponement of Sector SC-AP4, of the Campos Basin, from the Fifteenth to the Sixteenth Round of Bids, scheduled for the second half of 2019; and

· Southern expansion of the Uirapuru prospect, in the Santos Basin, to be offered in the Fourth Bid Round of blocks under the Production Sharing Regime, scheduled for May 2018.

Combustível Brazil

The resolution approved by CNPE contemplates the following strategic guidelines: increase and diversification of the domestic supply of fuels and petroleum products, including increase of the refining capacity; Expansion of infrastructure to guarantee the national supply of fuels, other petroleum products and biofuels, stimulating more efficient modes of transportation; Development of a competitive market in the various links of the productive chain, with supply conditions at market prices; And transition to the new configuration of the market, preserving the security of supply throughout the national territory.

The Integrated Technical Committee for the Development of the Fuel Market, Other Petroleum Derivatives and Biofuels - CT-CB, will also be created, with the participation of various government entities, civil society and associations representing the sectors involved.

RenovaBio

The CNPE approved the strategic guidelines that will guide a new policy for the biofuels sector, as an integral part of the RenovaBio Program. The strategic guidelines point to the need to introduce market mechanisms to induce productive efficiency and competition, with the lowest emissions of greenhouse gases.

The deliberation of the CNPE also established the RenovaBio Working Group, with the mission of evaluating, in up to 60 days, proposals for normative revisions necessary for the implementation of the Program, in compliance with the approved strategic guidelines. The Ethanol and Biodiesel Supply Monitoring Committees were also created to systematically monitor and evaluate the market for these biofuels.

The discussions also debated the possible anticipation for March 2018 of the blend of biodiesel and diesel (B10). In this sense, the Ministry of Mines and Energy is finalizing negotiations with the biodiesel producers, distributors and manufacturers of motor vehicles and will bring the matter to the CNPE appreciation soon.

Definition of penalty for lack of fuel 

FerbO CNPE approved Resolution recommending to the ANEEL and the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels - ANP, observing the due legal powers, to regulate the fuel shortage, respectively, for the generation agents of Electricity and fuel suppliers, compatible with the characteristics of each energy source, as provided by Law No. 9,847 of October 26, 1999, and in the contractual instruments in force.