According to experts, the government program will make relevant companies in the sector sell their shares in the distribution
The Novo Mercado de Gas Program, presented at the end of June, by the government, should make the most prominent companies in the sector cause a wave of privatizations and thus attract large international and local companies to evaluate the assets.
The feeling is that of specialists in the sector, although most think that the speed with which this will happen may not be the one intended by the government.
Large companies should show interest, such as groups that already operate in the sector, such as the Brazilian Cosan, the Spanish Naturgy and Repsol, such as the Portuguese Galp, the French Engie, as well as fuel and LPG companies and financial agents, such as pension funds and investment.
With the government's program, Petrobras must seek buyers for the plots it holds in 19 gas distributors of the 27 companies that operate in the sector in Brazil, having even signed a commitment with CADE to dispose of all its gas transmission and distribution assets gas by 2021.
According to the partner-director of the consultancy Gas Energy, Rivaldo Moreira Neto: “There is no doubt… in fact, we are going to watch this privatization process, a very strong process of selling gas distributors to private hands”.
The consultant added that the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Economy should encourage the states to privatize their state-owned gas distribution companies.
Regarding state gas companies, Petrobras owns minority gas shares through Gaspetro, whose company Misui doJapan owns 49% of the shares, but on the other hand controls GasBrasiliano, in São Paulo, for example.
Against the will
States, however, should oppose such government measures, as many of them will not want to lose control of their gas companies.
This is the main reason for experts to think that privatizations will happen, but not at the speed that is thought, in favor of the government there may be an exchange with incentives, such as, for example, renegotiations of state debts.
One of the states that have already shown themselves to be in favor of privatization is Rio Grande do Sul, but it is still not enough and according to specialists this wave may be that of a pebble in a lake, but it will happen.
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