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State-Owned Petrobras Expands Presence in the Free Gas Market in São Paulo and Strengthens Industrial Competitiveness Strategy of Suzano; Billion-Dollar Investment Aims to Ensure National Supply.
Last Thursday, the 15th, Petrobras formalized an important contract with Suzano for the supply of natural gas to the company’s five industrial units in the state of São Paulo. The agreement marks the state-owned company’s debut in the free natural gas market in São Paulo, strengthening its position in this strategic segment and expanding its presence among industrial consumers. As a result, the Suzano plants located in Jacareí, Limeira, Mogi das Cruzes, Suzano, and Rio Verde will now be directly served by Petrobras, in a move that also represents the company’s expansion into the free market.
Expansion of the Free Natural Gas Market
The new phase of supply follows the transition initiated by Suzano in 2024, when its units in Espírito Santo and Maranhão began operating in the free market.
Now, with the entry of the São Paulo plants, the company is advancing its strategy to optimize energy costs and enhance operational competitiveness.
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“The migration to the free market in the state of São Paulo is a strategic step to strengthen our competitiveness and energy efficiency, and reinforces our commitment to fostering a more flexible, dynamic, and competitive natural gas market in Brazil,” said Viviane Lichtenstein, Executive Supply Manager at Suzano.
Industrial Potential of São Paulo Attracts Petrobras
According to Petrobras, São Paulo hosts the largest industrial consumer market for natural gas in the country, which represents enormous potential for commercial synergies and economies of scale. The state-owned company’s presence in the São Paulo free segment aims to explore these opportunities.
“The industrial consumer market for natural gas in São Paulo is the largest in the country, thus concentrating significant opportunities in terms of placing Petrobras’s natural gas, such as the potential for capturing synergies between Petrobras and customers, better conditions and flexibilities to meet the demands of these industries, and ultimately, greater competitiveness for the sector,” stated Maurício Tolmasquim, Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability at Petrobras.
Robust Investments and Flexible Contracts
To ensure sustainable supply of the input, Petrobras plans to invest about US$ 7 billion in infrastructure and expanding the national production and distribution capacity of natural gas.
The goal is to reduce dependence on imports and enhance energy security in the country.
In addition to financial investments, the state-owned company has been making its contractual models more flexible, offering various terms and different indexers, allowing greater adherence to the specific needs of each industrial customer. This approach seeks to make the gas market more attractive and competitive.
Source: Petrobras Agency
