Regulator ANP accuses Petrobras of pressuring gas release rules

A director at Brazil's National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), Pietro Mendes, said on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, that he received mocking complaints from Petrobras executives regarding the agency's technical work on natural gas market deconcentration.

Mendes, who serves as rapporteur for the gas release process, noted that the regulator is facing pressure to postpone a public hearing scheduled for October 21, 2026. The public consultation on the rule closed on Monday, September 28, 2026. Under the proposal, dominant market agents are required to reduce their market share. In Brazil, Petrobras holds roughly 60% of the natural gas market.

Speaking at an ANP workshop, Mendes criticised the state-controlled company directly. He said Petrobras directors published daily articles over two weeks and made derisive remarks about agency staff, including economists with master's degrees and doctorates and technical workers with more than 20 years of experience. Mendes said the regulator aims to debate with market participants, but insisted the market must respect the regulator's technical competence and public mandate.

Petrobras was contacted for comment regarding the remarks. Mendes declined to comment further on the pressures when approached by journalists after the panel.