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Gas Sector Expects Impact from New ANP Regulations as Government Launches Social Program to Expand Access to Gas Cylinders, with Billion-Dollar Investment at Risk and Criticism on Competitiveness and Safety.
According to the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, the LPG sector welcomed the launch of the Gas for the People program, created to expand access to cooking gas among low-income families.
However, industry leaders warn that regulatory proposals under discussion at the ANP could compromise planned investments to meet the new demand.
The assessment is from Pedro Turqueto, CEO of Copa Energia, responsible for the Copagaz and Liquigás brands, who estimates the need for R$ 2.5 billion in investments for the purchase of new gas cylinders.
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Gas for the People Program and Social Impact
The program was launched on September 4, 2025, in Belo Horizonte, and replaces the current cash-based Gas Aid model with vouchers or cards that allow the direct collection of gas cylinders from authorized resellers.
The measure, according to Folha de S. Paulo, is expected to encourage families who currently cook with firewood or charcoal to switch to LPG, reducing the so-called energy poverty.
According to Turqueto, the initiative could add 11 million households to the consumer market.
To ensure adequate supply, it would be necessary to expand the packaging park and strengthen the logistics network.
However, the executive emphasizes that this movement depends on regulatory stability, as the proposals under analysis by the ANP could profoundly alter the sector’s dynamics.
ANP Proposals Under Review
Among the measures being discussed are the partial filling of cylinders and the end of brand exclusivity, allowing companies to fill containers of competitors.
The ANP confirmed that it is still evaluating the suggestions and stated that the largest distributors already fill cylinders without their brand, a practice that, according to the agency, demonstrates trust among competitors.
If flexibility advances, the agency foresees traceability rules to enhance safety.
For the companies, however, the opening may discourage investments.
Turqueto argues that it would be inconsistent to require the sector to invest billions in packaging and then detach them from the brands that made the investment.
In the entrepreneur’s view, such changes weaken the business model and could compromise the maintenance and quality control of gas cylinders in circulation.
Debate on Prices and Supply Chain Costs
The regulatory controversy adds to the debate about prices.
During the launch of the Gas for the People program, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva once again criticized the difference between the price of LPG sold by Petrobras and the retail price.
According to him, the state-owned company supplies the product for approximately R$ 37, but consumers pay over R$ 100.
In May, Lula had already questioned who was “making a lot of money” in that difference.
The sector counters by highlighting the additional costs along the supply chain.
Turqueto cites the incidence of taxes, logistics from refineries to distribution points, the so-called last mile for delivery to homes, and the constant investment in cylinder maintenance.
“Petrobras provides the gas molecule, which is our biggest cost, but there are taxes, the primary logistics of the product, the last mile to deliver to people’s homes, and investment in the packaging itself, in the cylinder, which requires maintenance,” he states.
Copa Energia claims to serve 100% of municipalities and reach 91% of households, which demands a strong operational structure.
Risk of Irregularities in the Sector
Another sensitive point is the risk of infiltration by illegal groups in the sector.
Large distributors claim that regulatory relaxations could open the door to practices similar to those seen in the fuel market, which is the target of the Operation Carbono Oculto.
Turqueto reinforces this view and warns that overly permissive measures could have consequences similar to those observed in the past.
The ANP, however, denies the possibility of facilitating the entry of organized crime.
The agency maintains that all activities would remain restricted to authorized and monitored agents, with control mechanisms such as audits, tracking of cylinders, and sanctions applied in case of irregularities.
Perspectives for the LPG Sector
The impasse shows that, although the program has the potential to expand access to an essential input, the sector demands regulatory security to enable the necessary investments.
The outcome of the discussion will be decisive in balancing three variables: consumption expansion, investment assurance, and operational safety maintenance.
According to the Folha de S. Paulo, the decision on the final format of the ANP regulations will be crucial to determine whether the public policy will have an immediate effect on reducing energy poverty or face obstacles in supply capacity.
The central question remains: is it possible to reconcile a more accessible gas cylinder for the population with a regulatory environment that ensures investments and quality of service?
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