Perspectivas da utilização de gás natural no Brasil

Abstract

The developed world experience shows that the economical growth of a country always requires a great availability of the domestic energy production capacity, at competitive and attractive market prices. The stability of commercial relationships, defined by a transparent and objective regulation, the diversity of supply sources and state policies that motivate the sustainable development of the consuming market are essential requirements to attract new investors to the energy sector. In spite of the recent increment of the natural gas share in the national energy matrix and the world's perspective of increasing the use of this fuel, some challenges still interpose to the effective growth of the participation of the natural gas in the national energy market. Critical items for the expansion of the utilization of the natural gas in Brazil, such as the allocation of large investments in production infrastructure, transport and distribution, the exploration of the main hydrocarbon reserves, the reduction of the uncertainties regarding the demand behavior of natural gas in industrial and thermoelectric markets, allied to the great technological challenges for production of the Brazilian Pre-salt impose great risks to investment returns in the sector, causing postponements to the development of new production areas and the increase in the demand of natural gas. The objective of this work is to present a broad view of the Brazilian market of natural gas, based on current challenges to the expansion of the use of the gas in the country and potential sceneries, developed from the analysis of the surveyed data on production and consumption and also on the current state of the Brazilian gas industry. This work also presents a set of propositions aiming to mitigate the mentioned difficulties and to boost the development of the natural gas market in Brazil