Target was established by the National Energy Policy Council and must be met in 2026
Natural gas producers and importers must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 0.5% in 2026. The target for the sector was defined by members of the CNPE (National Energy Policy Council), this Wednesday (April 1, 2026).
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, after analyzing the current supply and demand for biomethane, the advisors concluded that the 0.5% reduction is the most appropriate to balance technical feasibility, regulatory predictability and stimulation of market development.
The council also approved the creation of the Biomethane Market Monitoring Table.
The expectation is that, under the coordination of the ministry, the table will enable due monitoring of the evolution of the biomethane market, with a view to reestablishing the initial reduction target, which, according to the Future Fuel Law, would be at least 1%.
According to the ministry, the law defines that the CNPE may, exceptionally, set the target at a value of less than 1%, for justified reasons of public interest or when the volume of biomethane production makes it impossible or excessively burdensome to achieve the target.
The CNPE also established, as in the interest of national energy policy, that the ANP (National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels) implement the necessary measures to guarantee the transparency of data relating to the biomethane market as a subsidy for the monitoring work of the Biomethane Market Monitoring Table.
For the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, setting the target at 0.5% represents a strategic step towards strengthening the gas market in the country.
“By establishing a clear and predictable target, Brazil gives an important signal to the market, stimulates investments and creates the necessary conditions for the development of biomethane as a decarbonization vector, without compromising energy security and the competitiveness of the industry”said Silveira, when defending the gradual expansion of the use of biomethane.
With physical-chemical characteristics similar to those of natural gas of fossil origin, biomethane has high potential for replacement in vehicular, industrial and distributed generation applications.
Although it still has a reduced participation in the national energy matrix, Brazil has ample production potential.
Currently, there are 19 plants authorized as biomethane producers by the ANP and another 37 in the authorization process, reflecting the growth opportunities in this strategic market for the energy transition and decarbonization of the natural gas sector.
This text was originally published by , on April 1, 2026. The content is free for republication, citing the source, and was adapted to the standard of Poder360.
