Oil and Gas | Featured News | July 2026

Senate committee approves bill expanding ANP’s access to tax information of regulated entities

On July 8, 2026, the Federal Senate’s Committee on Transparency, Governance, Oversight and Control, and Consumer Protection (CFTC) approved Complementary Bill No. 109/2025 (link), which provides for ANP access to regulated entities’ tax information for purposes of sector oversight and regulation.

The bill provides that the granting of authorizations and licenses for the performance of activities regulated by ANP will be conditional upon regulated entities permanently authorizing access to data contained in Electronic Invoices (NF-e), Electronic Consumer Invoices (NFC-e), and Electronic Bills of Lading (CT-e). This requirement also applies to entities that already hold valid licenses, which will be required to provide the authorization in order to maintain the validity of their authorizing instruments, in accordance with future regulations.

Following its approval by the CFTC, Complementary Bill No. 109/2025 will be reviewed by the Senate’s Infrastructure Services Committee and will then be submitted to the Plenary. As a complementary bill, it will require the favorable vote of an absolute majority of senators. If approved without amendments, the bill will proceed directly for presidential assent. If amended, it will return to the Chamber of Deputies for a new vote.

CNPE approves temporary increase in ethanol content in gasoline to 32%

On July 30, 2026, CNPE Resolution No. 9/2026 (link), approved by the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) on July 14, was published, establishing, on an exceptional and temporary basis, a mandatory 32% anhydrous ethanol content in regular gasoline (E32) marketed throughout Brazil. The measure took effect on August 1, 2026, for a period of 180 days and may be extended once for an additional 180-day period by an act of the President of the CNPE. During this period, the 30% ethanol content (E30) previously established under CNPE Resolution No. 9/2025 is suspended.

To allow existing inventories and the fuel supply chain to adapt, ANP will apply the transition rule set forth in Article 15-B of ANP Resolution No. 807/2020. Accordingly, the imposition of penalties for non-compliance with the new percentage must observe transition periods of 15 days for fuel distributors and 30 days for retail fuel stations in the South, Southeast, Center-West and Northeast regions, and 30 days for distributors and 60 days for retail fuel stations in the North region, due to the region’s particular logistical conditions.

The Resolution also clarified that the tolerance of up to one percentage point, either above or below the prescribed ethanol content, is exclusively metrological and operational in nature and is intended to accommodate analytical uncertainties and variations inherent in blending, transportation and sampling processes. This tolerance does not authorize economic agents to deliberately vary the ethanol content, does not broaden the range for regulatory compliance and may not be combined with additional measurement uncertainty margins.

According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the implementation of E32 was supported by technical tests conducted by the Mauá Institute of Technology, which directly assessed the E32 blend in light-duty vehicles and motorcycles powered exclusively by gasoline. According to the MME, the tests did not identify any material impacts on the performance or drivability of the vehicles assessed. The Ministry also stated that the permanent adoption of E32 or higher ethanol blends will depend on the tests planned for E35.

ANP clarified that the adoption of E32 does not, at this time, change the other gasoline specifications set forth in ANP Resolution No. 807/2020. The anhydrous ethanol content applicable to premium gasoline also remains at 25%.

Lastly, it should be noted that the implementation of E32 is the subject of Public Civil Action No. 6012711-55.2026.4.06.3803, filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), seeking to suspend the change until technical studies deemed sufficient are presented, in addition to an independent expert examination and the adoption of specific procedures for future changes to fuel composition.

Despite the judicial challenge, the implementation of E32 proceeded according to the timetable established by the CNPE, and the new blend took effect on August 1, 2026.

Congress extends review period for provisional measures on fuel subsidies

On July 6 and July 17, 2026, the President of the Federal Senate, Senator Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), extended the effectiveness of Provisional Measures No. 1,358/2026 and No. 1,363/2026 by an additional 60 days. The measures establish subsidies for fuel sales and for the production and import of diesel, respectively.

Provisional Measure No. 1,358, dated May 13, 2026 (link), authorized the Executive Branch to grant economic subsidies to producers and importers of petroleum-derived fuels in order to mitigate the impacts of rising international energy prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East. The mechanism provides for reimbursement of amounts equivalent to federal taxes deducted from gasoline and diesel sale prices.

Provisional Measure No. 1,363, dated May 30, 2026 (link), established a new economic subsidy regime specifically for automotive diesel. The measure authorized a subsidy of BRL 1.12 per liter sold to producers and importers qualified by ANP, subject to their commitment to deduct the corresponding amount from sale prices.

With the extension, MP 1,363/2026 remains in effect until September 26, 2026, while MP 1,358/2026 remains in effect until September 9, 2026. Both provisional measures remain subject to review by the National Congress.

CAE approves bill establishing the National Zero Methane Program

On July 7, 2026, the Federal Senate’s Committee on Economic Affairs approved Bill No. 3,311/2025 (link), authored by Senator Fernando Dueire (PSD-PE), which establishes the National Zero Methane Program. The bill is currently pending before the Environment Committee, under the rapporteurship of Senator Eliziane Gama.

The bill establishes guidelines to integrate agricultural, industrial, and urban waste management policies with renewable energy production, focusing on the reduction of methane emissions. The technologies covered include anaerobic digestion, a process used to produce biomethane and biogas; the co-processing of refuse-derived fuel; and energy recovery from non-recyclable solid waste. The bill provides that energy produced through these pathways will account for a minimum share of annual electricity procurement in the national power mix, with progressive targets to be established by specific regulations and reviewed periodically.

The bill also creates the Zero Methane Origin Certification, intended to demonstrate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieved by anaerobic digestion, co-processing, and energy recovery projects. Certificates must be issued by accredited entities following independent audits, based on traceability criteria, monitoring of avoided emissions, and the amount of renewable energy generated. The bill also provides for an electronic system administered by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to register and monitor these certifications.

The bill also amends Law No. 12,305/2010 (link), which establishes the National Solid Waste Policy, to include incentives for generating energy from solid waste, including through anaerobic digestion, biogas and biomethane production, co-processing of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), energy recovery, and energy generation at landfills.

MME launches National Pact for the Development of the Natural Gas Market

In July 2026, the MME presented the National Pact for the Development of the Natural Gas Market. The initiative seeks to harmonize and improve the rules applicable to the natural gas industry, including biogas and biomethane, with a focus on enhancing legal certainty, regulatory predictability, competition, and the sustainable development of the Brazilian natural gas market.

The Pact will be formalized through Technical Cooperation Agreements (ACTs), with an initial term of 24 months and a review scheduled at the end of that period. Two instruments with identical content were prepared: ACT No. 4/2026 (link), intended for state government departments, with ANP participating as a consenting intervening party, and ACT No. 5/2026 (link), intended for state regulatory agencies. The agreements do not involve the transfer of funds and preserve the institutional autonomy of the participating entities.

The commitments of the signatories include reviewing state rules that may conflict with federal natural gas legislation; pursuing regulatory convergence and the adoption of best practices; sharing studies, data, and regulatory methodologies; and preserving the separation between competitive marketing activities and network logistics services.

The instrument also provides that disagreements among the participants should preferably be addressed through dialogue, negotiation, and mediation, including through the Federal Public Administration Mediation and Conciliation Chamber of the Office of the Attorney General.

The Pact’s governance structure will include Pact Management Meetings (RGP), held every two months with representatives of the MME, ANP, state government departments, and participating state regulatory agencies. These meetings will be responsible for approving the executive work plan, assessing regulatory diagnostics, and monitoring the agreed actions. Temporary Technical Meetings (RTT), coordinated by the MME’s Natural Gas Department, may also be held to examine specific regulatory matters in greater depth and to prepare studies and technical proposals.

On July 24, 2026, ANP’s Board of Directors approved the Agency’s participation in the Pact. Subsequently, on July 29, 2026, representatives of the state regulatory agencies of Sergipe, Espírito Santo, and Mato Grosso do Sul joined the initiative through a Technical Cooperation Agreement with the Union, represented by the MME and ANP. On August 19, 2026, Rio de Janeiro formalized its accession to the Pact.

CNPE restricts the use of imported biodiesel to meet the mandatory blending requirement

On August 14, 2026, CNPE Resolution No. 12/2026 (link), approved by CNPE on July 14, was published. The Resolution amends CNPE Resolution No. 5/2026 (link) and establishes new guidelines applicable to the commercialization of biodiesel intended to meet the mandatory blending percentage in diesel B.

Among the changes, the Resolution provides that all biodiesel marketed in Brazil for purposes of meeting the mandatory blending requirement must originate exclusively from production facilities authorized by ANP. The measure therefore implements a restriction on the use of imported biodiesel to comply with the mandatory blending requirement, currently set at 15%. This requirement is additional to the rule already established under CNPE Resolution No. 5/2026, according to which at least 80% of the volume of biodiesel intended for the mandatory blend must come from production facilities holding the Social Biofuel Seal.

The Resolution also establishes new guidelines related to the Social Biofuel Seal, requiring that program data be regularly maintained, audited and inspected by the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, and that such data be reliable and up to date. In addition, it provides that the regulations governing the granting and maintenance of the Seal must have regulatory stability as a fundamental guideline, in accordance with the principles of predictability and legal certainty.

Although published on August 14, 2026, CNPE Resolution No. 12/2026 expressly provides that it entered into force on August 1, 2026.

EPE publishes fact sheet on carbon mineralization as a storage pathway for CCS projects

In July 2026, the Energy Research Office (EPE) published a fact sheet entitled “Carbon Mineralization as a New Frontier for CCS Pathways” (link), addressing the use of mineralization as an alternative for the permanent storage of carbon dioxide in carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.

According to EPE, mineralization consists of converting CO2 into stable carbonate minerals through geochemical reactions with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks, especially basalts. The fact sheet notes that when CO2 is injected dissolved in water, mineral trapping may occur within a few years, unlike conventional geological storage mechanisms, in which complete mineral conversion may take thousands of years.

The publication provides an international overview of the technology and highlights projects operating in Iceland, including Silverstone, Climeworks Orca, Nesjavellir, and Climeworks Mammoth, all of which store CO2 in basalt formations through mineralization. The document also mentions projects under development in Oman and the United Arab Emirates involving the injection of CO2 into ultramafic rocks.

In the Brazilian context, EPE identifies potential for applying the technology due to the broad distribution of mafic and ultramafic rocks across the country, with significant occurrences in states such as Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Pará, Bahia, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul. The document identifies the Paraná Basin as the primary focus of domestic studies because of the presence of the Serra Geral Formation basalts and their proximity to major industrial CO2 emission centers.

Carbon market: public consultation includes E&P and refining in the first stage of MRV obligations

On July 28, 2026, the Ministry of Finance opened a public consultation on the proposed timetable for implementing monitoring, reporting and verification (“MRV”) obligations under the Brazilian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System (“SBCE”). Contributions may be submitted until August 28, 2026, through the link available online.

The proposal includes, in the first stage of the timetable, which is expected to begin in 2027, oil and natural gas exploration and production activities and petroleum refining, in addition to other industrial sectors.

Implementation will be gradual and is expected to support the development of the SBCE’s official emissions database. Inclusion in the MRV timetable does not, at this stage, imply the imposition of emissions limits or offsetting obligations, which will depend on further regulation.

Lefosse’s Environmental and ESG team has prepared a specific alert on the matter, providing further details on the public consultation, the proposed timetable and the next steps for implementing MRV obligations under the SBCE.

Petrobras extends proposal submission deadline for the Búzios 12 FPSO

Petrobras has extended to March 8, 2027, the deadline for the submission of proposals under Opportunity No. 7004433974, concerning the contracting of the Búzios 12 FPSO (P-91). The unit will be installed in the Búzios field, in the Santos Basin, operated by Petrobras, which holds an 88.99% interest, in partnership with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), which holds a 3.67% interest, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), which holds a 7.34% interest.

The Búzios 12 FPSO will have the capacity to produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil per day and process 12 million m³ of natural gas per day. The unit will be connected to 16 wells, comprising eight production wells and eight alternating water and gas injection wells, and will also serve as a natural gas export hub. The volumes will be transported through the Route 3 pipeline to the Boaventura Energy Complex, in Itaboraí, State of Rio de Janeiro.

The Búzios 12 FPSO will be contracted under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, under which the selected company will be responsible for the design, construction, assembly and initial operation of the unit before its definitive transfer to Petrobras. Proposals must be submitted through the Petronect Portal.

This content is part of the Oil and Gas Newsletter for july 2026, bringing together the main sector highlights of the period. We emphasize that this material is for informational purposes only. Our team is available to provide additional information on these and other topics.