ANP Delays Bottled‑Gas Rule Review and Pipeline Tariff Consultation

Overview

• The ANP board removed the bottled‑LPG commercialization review from its May 29, 2026 agenda and postponed the vote to June 12 for further study while also delaying a decision to open public consultation on pipeline access and tariffs.
• The Ministry of Mines and Energy sent a formal letter arguing that measures that would allow fractionated filling or remove brand exclusivity clash with the Gás do Povo law and would weaken cylinder traceability and consumer safety.
• ANP’s technical team (SDL) had presented a draft that kept a ban on fractionated sales and required labeling while proposing electronic tracking with serial numbers and a new regulated small‑scale envasador to broaden filling access.
• A Universidade de São Paulo study and MME warnings say loosening rules could raise fraud, adulteration and organized‑crime risks unless enforcement is bolstered by coordinated action from federal police, tax authorities and prosecutors.
• On pipeline tariffs the agency chose the recovered capital method (RCM) to value assets and planned a public consultation that consumer groups support because changes could materially lower long‑run gas costs, but directors asked for more review before launching the consultation.