The Federal Government announced Resolution CNPE nº 1/2023 that establishes the Working Group of Gas to Employ Program. The program was announced by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the measure was published in the Official Gazette. For the proposal of the program there is a demand for the preparation of studies that are aimed at promoting the use of natural gas that is produced in the country.
The idea proposed by the program is that the country will receive investments from the private sector. The program also has the proposal to encourage the process of national reindustrialization through Brazilian gas. The national reindustrialization process will allow for an increase in natural gas production through the generation of jobs and income. This process is capable of bringing back national energy security, in addition to more investments for the sector.
Based on data from the Energy Research Company (EPE), investments are around R$ 94 billion, directed to the private sector. These investments are related to investments in fertilizer units with added value of R$ 39 billion. About 15 billion euros were invested in gas units and processing routes and 25 billion euros were allocated to transport gas pipelines, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The idea proposed for the Gás para Empregar program promotes the guarantee of long-term gas supply contracts, in the same way that investments are guided and directed towards new industrial plants. As important goals are the availability of natural gas for the production of fertilizers in addition to nitrogenous gases. All these products operate within the issue of petrochemical products and other productive sectors. Production is fundamental because it reduces the external dependence of all inputs and they are linked to the country's production chains.
With the study proposal, it is possible to promote the integration of natural gas within the national strategy for the energy transition and contemplate the investments that hold the development of low carbon. Products such as biogas and biomethane, hydrogen for low carbon and carbon capture work as part of the process. Within the resolution of Resolution CNPE nº 1/2023, the proposed studies also aim at “access, construction, operation, and maintenance of structures for the flow and processing of natural gas from production sharing contracts, as an incentive measure to increase supply in the domestic market” (MME).
This proposal leverages the country's economic issues and is associated with national reindustrialization, a fundamental activity for the country's growth. The Gás para Empregar Program will allow for an increase in the national production of the input and will generate jobs and income.
