Viewpoint: Brazil envisions expanded gas role in 2024
The 2023 start of Brazil's gas for jobs program elevated natural gas as a potential driver of the country's reindustrialization, but several bottlenecks have yet to be resolved.
The gas for jobs program was created under the new administration of President Ignacio Lula da Silva in 2023 to focus natural gas toward fulfilling national economic growth ambitions. Instead of just being looked at as a stable energy source to ensure the energy transition, natural gas is now recognized as a force capable of propelling industrial revitalization, said João Victor Marques, researcher at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, an energy think tank.
Natural gas has a potential role in growing strategic sectors like steel, ceramics and petrochemicals, where its use has been suppressed by limited supply, according to many industry groups. It is now being seen as a tool as important as oil, but with the added benefit of being able to support the energy transition — a subtle but important distinction.
But gas for jobs has its work cut out for it. Brazil produced 162.1mn m³/d of natural gas in November but only half of it was available for the market — the rest was reinjected into wells to boost crude production or because of lack of pipeline capacity. Current domestic natural gas prices top $11/mmBtu, similar to the price of imported natural gas.
Brazil's natural gas market has undergone a significant revolution in the last two years, but market participants remain divided into two categories: the confident, who believe the progress will continue; and the skeptics, who question if the market has really evolved and bemoan the slow pace of change.
Market participants engage with each other in many oil and gas industry roundtables throughout the year, each one with distinct priorities. Producers, transporters, distributors, end-consumers, the federal and states governments, legislators, and regulators mostly agree on a goal of maturing the market and making it grow. How to do so is where the parties are divided.
The gas for jobs program, initiated in March through five working groups, has several key goals: increase the country's natural gas supply, optimize the socioeconomic returns of national gas production, enhance gas availability for fertilizer and petrochemical sectors, and integrate natural gas into the national low-carbon energy transition strategy, including biogas, low-carbon hydrogen, industrial cogeneration, and carbon capture.
After some rounds of debate, the program reaches the end of 2023 with some of those goals on a path to advance in 2024. This includes the need to increase exploration projects to expand natural gas supply and bring prices down; facilitating access to Petrobras' existing facilities such as gas processing units; better integrate infrastructure such as transport pipelines; increase pipeline mileage; and advance the regulation agenda.
In January, the oil and gas regulator ANP is set to release regulations for access to existing oil, gas and biofuels facilities for market participants — which are highlighted as key bottlenecks for the segment.
If gas is to serve as an essential input for Brazil's industrialization, the industry expects an increase in supply, better prices, and caution to avoid fueling the legal and regulatory uncertainty.
Related news posts
Japan’s Jera to handle 35mn t/yr LNG until FY2035-36
Japan’s Jera to handle 35mn t/yr LNG until FY2035-36
Osaka, 17 May (Argus) — Japan's largest LNG importer Jera plans to maintain its LNG handling volumes at no less than 35mn t/yr until the April 2035-March 2036 fiscal year. Rising renewable power supplies and the possible return of more nuclear reactors are likely to pressure LNG demand from Japan's power sector. Jera consumed 23mn t of LNG in 2023-24, down by 3pc on the year, although it handled 35mn t through its global operations during the same year. But Jera needs to secure sufficient LNG supplies to adjust for imbalances in electricity supplies and ensure power security, through more flexible operations. It is also looking to further promote LNG along with renewable electricity in Asian countries, while helping to reduce their dependence on coal- and oil-fired power generators. The 2035 target for LNG is part of Jera's three pillars of strategic focus, along with renewables as well as hydrogen and ammonia , which was announced on 16 May to spur decarbonisation towards its 2050 net zero emissions goal. The company plans to invest ¥5 trillion ($32bn) for these three areas over 2024-36. Jera also aims to retire all supercritical or less efficient coal-fired units by 2030-31 . This would help achieve the company's target of cutting CO2 emissions from its domestic business by at least 60pc against 2013-14 levels by 2035-36. By Motoko Hasegawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Chinese importers seek five LNG cargoes for Jun-Sep
Chinese importers seek five LNG cargoes for Jun-Sep
Shanghai, 15 May (Argus) — Five Chinese importers, mostly second-tier buyers, are each seeking one LNG cargo for June-September delivery, according to an official notice published by China's national pipeline operator PipeChina on 15 May. The five importers are PipeChina, Chinese independent ENN, Hong Kong-listed city gas firm China Resources Gas, Hong Kong-based Towngas and state-owned China Gas. PipeChina and ENN have indicated a target price of at most $9.50/mn Btu for their intended cargoes, both for delivery to PipeChina's 6mn t/yr Tianjin terminal. China Gas has indicated a target price of at most $9.30/mn Btu for delivery to PipeChina's 6mn t/yr Beihai termial. China Resources Gas and Towngas have both indicated a target price of at most $9/mn Btu for delivery to PipeChina's 2mn t/yr Yuedong and Tianjin terminals, respectively. This consolidated requirement came about because of a need for PipeChina to better leverage on its infrastructure advantages and, at the same time, meet the varying needs of gas importers and consumers in the country. But this requirement comes at a time when spot LNG prices are still somewhat higher than the importers' targeted prices. But the importers can choose not to buy if offers are not within their expectations. The front-half month of the ANEA, the Argus assessment for spot LNG deliveries to northeast Asia, was last assessed at $10.485/mn Btu on 15 May. Chinese importers mostly perceive spot prices below $9-9.50/mn Btu for June-September deliveries to be unattainable for now because there is strong buying interest from south and southeast Asia in particular. Indian state-controlled refiner IOC most recently bought LNG for delivery between 22 May and 15 June at around $10.60/mn Btu, through a tender that closed on 14 May. Thailand's state-controlled PTT most recently bought three deliveries for 9-10 July, 16-17 July and 22-23 July through a tender that closed on 13 May , at just slightly above $10.50/mn Btu. The most recent spot transaction was Japanese utility Tohoku Electric's purchase of a 10-30 June delivery at around $10.55/mn Btu through a tender that closed on 14 May . This is at least $1/mn Btu higher than Chinese importers' indications. Summer requirements have so far been muted but concerns among buyers about potential supply disruptions remain. Malaysia's 30mn t/yr Bintulu LNG export terminal suffered a power loss on 10 May, but this issue may have been resolved as of early on 15 May, according to offtakers. Some unspecified upstream issues may still be affecting production at the Bintulu facility, resulting in Malaysia's state-owned Petronas having to ask some of its buyers for cargo deferments, according to offtakers. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Q&A: Brazil adds Asian indexation for flexible gas
Q&A: Brazil adds Asian indexation for flexible gas
Sao Paulo, 13 May (Argus) — Three years after the natural gas market liberalization in Brazil, the number of consumers migrating from regulated supply has slowly increased and more flexible pricing mechanisms adopted. Argus spoke to Alessandro di Domenico , president of gas and power trader Delta Geração, about the current state of the market. Excerpts follow. Explain Delta's supply contract with Bolivia through 2026 despite Bolivia's gas production decline. The decline in production will happen because there is less investment [in Bolivia] than a few years back. But there are still some volumes that can supply the Brazilian market, especially in flexible contracts in the liberalized market. There is some gas that was being directed to Argentina and is now available. Even with the decline in Bolivia production, we will continue to have natural gas in the short-term. Besides that, the Rota 3 pipeline project [in Brazil's southeast] is close to being completed, which will bring more gas from pre-salt fields, leaving the market with more supply. This boosts the growth of the liberalized market. Delta is positioning itself to meet those demands and will sign other supply contracts soon. What types of contracts has Delta and others signed in the liberalized market? These are interruptible contracts. Their innovation relies on flexibility. Volume and duration are flexible. This allows us to meet clients almost back-to-back. How are these flexible contracts priced? They are competitive with the regulated market and are connected to international parity prices. Contracts are using Brent, Henry Hub and [Japan-Korea marker LNG spot prices]. How has the market progressed since 2021? This market was born rigid and is now gaining flexibility, in baby steps. In the beginning, there were only three consumers: Acelen, Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau and petrochemical group Unigel. Now we have companies in the cellulose business, metallurgy and automotive industry, which are all gas-intensive. So, in the future, there will be a big movement depending on state regulations, because that is an important axis of articulation for the mobility the liberalized market requires. State regulations play a very important role in allowing smaller entities to enter the market. By Rebecca Gompertz Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sao Paulo state seeks biomethane boost
Sao Paulo state seeks biomethane boost
Sao Paulo, 13 May (Argus) — Brazil's Sao Paulo state is seeking to capitalize on growing demand for renewable energy, announcing a series of measures to increase biogas and biomethane production across various sectors, including sugarcane, waste management firms and waste agriculture. As Brazil's largest sugar and ethanol producing state, Sao Paulo has substantial potential to leverage existing infrastructure and resources — especially vinasse, a byproduct of ethanol production — to increase biomethane output. To boost output, the state government will streamline environmental licensing for new projects through new rules that should attract investment, according to the state's environment undersecretary for energy and mining, Marisa Barros. The focus will initially be on the sugar and ethanol industry, which can produce 30mn m³/d of biogas. Biogas contains 50pc methane, which can be processed into biomethane, a drop-in substitute for natural gas. The state is also seeking to attract investment in biogas production from animal waste, which can produce up to 5mn m³/d. The government estimates that roughly 190,000 farms in the state can install biodigestors to produce biogas, which would contribute to lower emissions in the state. The state agriculture secretary also approved the use of the Sao Paulo agribusiness expansion fund (Feap) for investments in biodigestors as well as new solar power installations. And earlier this year state regulatory agency Arsesp stipulated a discount on distribution fees for biomethane sold on the wholesale market. Brazil's energy research company EPE sees significant potential for the sugarcane industry to expand biomethane production, in part because it has the advantage of having many mills adjacent to existing gas distribution infrastructure. In addition to selling the renewable gas on the wholesale market, many mills are using biomethane in their own operations and to substitute diesel in their trucks and machinery, contributing to lower fuel costs and emissions. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more