Rio is the first state to adhere to the changes and proposals for the new gas market, implemented by the federal government for the sector 

Rio de Janeiro is the first state to open the natural gas market. According to the new rules, approved yesterday (12) by the Regulatory Agency for Energy and Basic Sanitation of the State (Agenersa), the figure of the free consumer is created, so that they have autonomy of where and who wants to buy natural gas. 

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Currently, in the state of Rio, any consumer who wants to buy gas has to buy from the distributor Naturgy (ex-ceg). With the changes, the consumer himself will be able to build his own gas pipeline, which until now was the responsibility of the distributor, which made it difficult to implement new projects. 

To be considered a free consumer in Rio, he has to consume more than 10 cubic meters of natural gas per day. In practice, the beneficiaries will be companies and industries of medium size and upwards, being the regulatory agency. As for residential consumers, the measure does not apply, given that daily consumption is much lower than the proposed value. 

Yet, according to the Agenersa, the rule will only apply to new projects and expansions. The current ones will be kept without any changes. According to the agency's consultant-president, “the idea was to bring medium-sized companies to open up the natural gas market in Rio de Janeiro. The changes will unlock a series of investments, such as the Marlim1 thermoelectric plant in Macaé. It will also unlock investments by Petrobras' thermoelectric plant in the comperj and also at the Port of Açu. In addition to steelworks expansions, among others”. 

According to O Globo, Agenersa's deliberation takes effect from its publication in the Official State Gazette (DOE), scheduled for next Friday.