Petrobras backs ANP postponement of Gas Release hearing to 19 November 2026
- ANP postponed the public hearing on the Gas Release program to November 19, 2026.
- Petrobras says the delay enables a more thorough assessment of short-, medium- and long-term impacts and will not compromise subsequent ANP deadlines.
- Petrobras submitted contributions to ANP's public consultation in September 2026, proposing measures to boost competition while preserving supply security and investment.
- Petrobras warns Gas Release—compulsory auction sales of its volumes—could reduce investment predictability, limit supply expansion and mainly redistribute existing volumes with potentially temporary effects.
Petrobras' assessment of the postponement
Petrobras positively evaluates ANP's decision to postpone the public hearing on the Program for Reducing the Concentration in the Natural Gas Market (Gas Release) to November 19, 2026. The company says the change benefits the regulatory process by avoiding a hasty public debate, allowing better assessment of short-, medium- and long-term impacts, and enabling a more qualified final decision without compromising subsequent deadlines set by the agency.
Consultation participation
Petrobras states it is constructively participating in the debate and submitted contributions to ANP's public consultation in September 2026. Its suggestions aim to promote a more competitive, liquid and efficient natural gas market while preserving supply security, investments in the sector and the economic balance of agents involved.
About Gas Release and company concerns
Under ANP's proposal, Gas Release would be a compulsory natural gas sale program requiring Petrobras to sell part of its volumes via auctions, with minimum price, quantity and duration to be defined by the agency, for acquisition and/or resale by other agents. Petrobras warns the proposal may reduce the predictability needed for investments in production, importation and infrastructure, potentially causing smaller supply expansion and sustained price pressure in the medium and long term, and argues the measure primarily redistributes existing market volumes with potentially temporary effects and without demonstrated lasting benefits for competition or consumers.
Source: Petrobras