On April 1, 2026, the National Energy Policy Council (\u201cCNPE\u201d) approved Resolution No. 04\/2026, which is yet to be published, establishing the decarbonization target applicable to natural gas producers and importers for the year 2026. The regulation established as a goal a 0.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, to be achieved by increasing the share of biomethane in natural gas consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (\u201cMME\u201d), the definition of the 0.5% target sought to balance technical feasibility, regulatory predictability, and incentives for the development of the market. Compliance with the target will be demonstrated through the presentation of Biomethane Certificates of Origin (CGOB), regulated by RANP 996\/2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The approved percentage fell below the initial minimum of 1% set forth in Law\u00a0 \u00a0No. 14,993\/2024 (\u201cFuel of the Future Law\u201d). However, this setting of the target is supported by the Fuel of the Future Law, which authorizes the CNPE, on an exceptional basis, to set a lower target provided there is a justified reason of public interest or when the volume of biomethane production makes compliance with the target impossible or excessively burdensome (Art. 16, \u00a72). Additionally, the CNPE ordered the establishment of the Biomethane Market Monitoring Board, coordinated by the MME, with a view to restoring the 1% (one percent) target, so as to enable the target to be progressively raised toward the legal floor of 1% emissions reduction, based on the monitoring of the evolution of the biomethane market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On November 27, 2025, the Federal Prosecution Service (MPF) filed Public Civil Action No. 5001719-53.2025.4.02.5111\/RJ, seeking: (i) the suspension of the issuance of Preliminary License No. 672\/2025 (\u201cLP 672\/2025\u201d), granted in the name of Petrobras for Phase 4 of the Pre-Salt Complex in the Santos Basin; (ii) that Ibama refrain from proceeding with the environmental licensing process for the project; (iii) the performance of oil dispersion modeling; (iv) the preparation of a socio-environmental assessment with the participation of traditional communities; and (v) an order for compensation for collective moral damages and existential damages to the populations and traditional communities of the Southern Coast of Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Preliminary License granted by Ibama authorizes the location and conception of the project, as well as establishes the basic requirements and conditions to be observed in the subsequent licensing stages (installation, operation, and operating authorization).<\/p>\n\n\n\n On March 19, 2026, the Court of the 1st Federal District of Angra dos Reis granted the emergency injunction requested by the MPF and ordered the suspension of the effects of the issuance of LP 672\/2025, as well as that Ibama refrains from granting any other licenses for the project. In the same decision, the court ordered the preparation of a specific plan for Prior, Free, and Informed Consultation with the traditional communities potentially affected (indigenous peoples, quilombolas, cai\u00e7aras, and artisanal fishermen) in accordance with ILO Convention No. 169<\/a>. On March 24, 2026, Petrobras filed an interlocutory appeal, requesting a stay of execution, against the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, on March 31, 2026, the 5th Specialized Panel of the Federal Regional Court of the 2nd Region unanimously granted suspensive effect to the interlocutory appeal filed by Petrobras, setting aside the effects of the emergency injunction and, most importantly, reinstating LP 672\/2025. Currently, the decision on the merits of the interlocutory appeal is pending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 7, 2026, the Chamber of Deputies approved Complementary Bill No. 109\/2025<\/a> (\u201cPLP No. 109\/2025 or PLP\u201d), which authorizes ANP to access NF-e, NFC-e, and CT-e data relating to the commercial operations of all its regulated entities, upon prior authorization of permanent access. The bill conditions the issuance of ANP authorizations and concessions, as well as the maintenance of current authorizations, to the granting of express authorization for access to invoice data, under terms and within timeframes to be defined in regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PLP also authorizes ANP to obtain this information from Federal, State, and Federal District tax authorities, including data under the responsibility of the IBS Management Committee (CGIBS), enabling the Agency to validate declaratory data, cross-reference information, and prepare technical studies and sectoral analyses. Furthermore, it establishes that in cases where the sanctioning process may have tax implications, the ANP must notify the tax authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With its approval in the Chamber of Deputies, PLP No. 109\/2025 now proceeds to the Federal Senate, where it will be reviewed by the Constitution and Justice Committee and the Economic Affairs Committee, and subsequently by the Plenary. If approved without amendments, the bill will be sent for presidential sanction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 7, 2026, MME Ordinance No. 909\/2026<\/a> was published in the Federal Register, establishing the 1st Revision of the Regulatory Agenda of the Ministry of Mines and Energy for the period from 2025 to 2027, originally established by MME Ordinance No. 829 of March 20, 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The update consisted, in general terms, of postponing the deadline for completion of various items on the regulatory agenda, covering both those originally scheduled for 2025, whose completion was postponed to 2026, and some of the items scheduled for 2026, now with an estimated completion date of 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, item 11 was included, which addresses the drafting of an Interministerial Ordinance aimed at establishing minimum usage targets for waste oils and fats (WOFs) by producers of biodiesel, SAF, and green diesel, with a completion deadline, according to the MME\u2019s Regulatory Agenda, set for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 7, 2026, Provisional Presidential Decree No. 1,349\/2026<\/a> (\u201cMP\u201d) was published, establishing the Emergency Domestic Fuel Supply Regime, with the aim of ensuring energy sovereignty and the national supply of petroleum products and natural gas, in response to international price volatility and the current geopolitical context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The measure is already in effect and will still be reviewed by the National Congress, pending the establishment of the joint committee for review. The deadline for reviewing provisional measures is 60 days and may be extended for an equal period (Art. 62, \u00a7 3, of the Federal Constitution). Subsequently, on April 15, 2026, Decrees No. 12,930\/2026 and No. 12,931\/2026 were published, regulating the MP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The MP authorizes financial cooperation between the Federal Government, the States, and the Federal District, to enable the granting of economic subsidies for the importation of diesel, in an amount that may reach R$ 1.20 per liter, subject to the participation of subnational entities in the program and an overall limit of R$ 4 billion for the measure in April and May 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The financial cooperation was regulated by Decree No. 12,931\/2026, which sets forth the procedures for the accession of the States and the Federal District, while Decree No. 12,930\/2026 regulates the conditions for access to the economic subsidy for the importation of road-use diesel oil and LPG, in addition to establishing temporary transparency measures applicable to the fuel distribution market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Government will bear the full cost of the subsidy, with partial compensation from participating states through adjustments to federal transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the measures above, the Provisional Measure also provides for: (i) an amendment to the penalty regime under Law No. 9,847\/1999, with increased penalties in cases of abusive price increases or unjustified refusal to supply, with fines of up to R$ 500,000,000.00 (Art. 18); (ii) the granting of an economic subsidy for LPG imports, in the amount of up to R$ 850.00 per ton, with an overall limit of R$ 330 million (Art. 19); (iii) the adoption of exceptional measures to support the aviation sector, including working capital financing and deferral of air navigation fees (Arts. 20 and 21); and (iv) amendments to Provisional Measure No. 1,340\/2026 to provide for a temporary increase of BRL 0.80 per liter in the economic subsidy, between April 7 and May 31, 2026, driven by the low initial accession of States to the emergency regime, as well as to expressly establish the application of the 50% export tax rate to road-use diesel oil (Art. 15). The methodology for calculating the reference price applicable to the economic subsidy was regulated by the ANP, as detailed in item 7.1 (Decisions of the ANP Board of Directors) below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 10, 2026, the Brazilian Tax Authority updated the Repetro Manual<\/a>, incorporating Nota Coana No. 030\/2026<\/a>\u2019s specific guidelines<\/a> on the procedures for decommissioning and disposing of vessels and platforms. In summary, it clarifies that goods admitted under the Repetro-Tempor\u00e1rio regime may be transferred to the Temporary Admission regime with full tax suspension when intended for decommissioning purposes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In such cases, the transfer entails the termination of the\u00a0Repetro-Tempor\u00e1rio\u00a0and the\u00a0subjection of the unit to a new customs regime, with its own deadlines and obligations, and its continued presence in a non-customs area is\u00a0permitted. For units registered in the Brazilian Special Registry (REB), the period of stay will be six months, extendable for an equal period. For those not registered in the REB, the period will be\u00a0thirty\u00a0days, also extendable for an equal period.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, regarding the import declaration for the granting of temporary admission with total suspension\u00a0of federal taxes, the\u00a0Brazilian Tax Authority\u00a0clarifies that, in the absence of a sale for export to\u00a0Brazil, the customs value must correspond to the value of the goods themselves in their current condition, as used goods, through the application of the substitute methods provided for in the\u00a0WTO\u00a0Customs Valuation Agreement \u2013 a very welcome position, since it would not make sense to maintain the reference to the historical value of the goods at the time of their admission under the Repetro-Tempor\u00e1rio regime. However,\u00a0in the event of\u00a0subsequent\u00a0release for\u00a0import, based on a sale by the foreign owner to a purchaser domiciled in Brazil, the transaction value method must be applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nTRF 2 reinstates preliminary license for the Santos Basin Pre-Salt Complex \u2013 Phase 4<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nChamber of Deputies approves bill allowing the ANP to access tax invoices of regulated entities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMME revises its Regulatory Agenda for the 2025\u20132027 period<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nProvisional Presidential Decree established to create an emergency fuel supply regime and new subsidies for Diesel and LPG, regulated by Federal Decrees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBrazilian Tax Authority updates the Repetro Manual<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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