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Copa Energia Executive Warns That ANP Proposals May Hinder Billion-Dollar Investment Needed to Assist Families with Gas Do Povo Program
The cooking gas sector welcomed the announcement of the Gas Do Povo program with optimism, launched this Thursday (4) by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in Belo Horizonte. The measure plans to distribute gas cylinders to low-income families and, according to industry representatives, could help reduce so-called energy poverty in the country.
According to business leaders, replacing the current cash transfer system with vouchers is expected to encourage millions of families to abandon the use of firewood or charcoal and switch to cooking gas.
However, this change brings a challenge. The sector estimates that an investment of R$ 2.5 billion will be necessary to purchase new cylinders to serve around 11 million households.
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The warning comes from Pedro Turqueto, CEO of Copa Energia, owner of the Copagaz and Liquigás brands, the national leader in the distribution of LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).
He emphasizes that, while the measure is positive, regulatory proposals being discussed by the ANP (National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels) could jeopardize investments.
Among the measures under review are partial filling of cylinders and ending brand exclusivity, which would allow companies to fill competitors’ containers.
Turqueto strongly criticizes this possibility. “It’s unimaginable that you want the sector to invest R$ 2.5 billion in new packaging and, at the same time, say that this packaging no longer belongs to those who bought it and made the investment,” he stated.
When contacted, the ANP stated that the proposals are still under study. The agency noted that distributors with larger market shares already fill cylinders without their branding and that if the changes are approved, tracking measures would be required.
Additionally, Turqueto raised another concern: the risk of the market becoming a target for organized crime.
He drew a parallel with the Carbono Oculto operation, which investigated factions in the fuel sector. “If you go down a very permissive path in LPG, you’ll have the same consequences,” he warned.
The ANP, for its part, stated that there is no clarity on how the changes could facilitate the entry of criminal organizations, as activities would be carried out by authorized and regulated agents.
During the launch of the program, Lula again criticized LPG sector prices. The president stated that gas leaves Petrobras at around R$ 37 but reaches the population at over R$ 100. In May, he had already said that someone was “making a lot of money” on that difference.
Turqueto countered. For him, all sector agents are interested in offering the cylinder at the lowest possible price.
However, he explained that besides the cost of the product supplied by Petrobras, there are also taxes, logistics, and the so-called “last mile” to deliver the cylinder to the household, not to mention the necessary investment in maintaining the packaging.
“I deliver my product to 100% of the municipalities and 91% of the households. This requires a significant investment,” concluded the executive.
With information from Folha de São Paulo.
Essa **** de governo não tem a capacidade de analisar o quanto o empresário sofre para pagar as contas e a manutenção para manter funcionando a empresa, eles acham que vem tudo de graça, lixo de governo, fazendo medidas populistas para ganhar votos, tenho nojo desse governo
Quanto mais ignorante o pobre, melhor pra governos como esse. O pobre ainda não abriu os olhos pra verem que isso é eleitoreiro. Gostam de migalhas.
Governo de pilantras, daqui a pouco vão descobrir que os botijões estão indo só com a metade do gaz!