Brazil Senate Approves ‘Gás do Povo’, Sends Measure to Lula

Overview

• Senators passed the provisional measure in a symbolic, unanimous vote on Feb. 3, a day after the Chamber approved it 415–29, clearing the text before the Feb. 11 expiry deadline.
• The program expands coverage from roughly 5.1 million to about 15–15.5 million families with per‑capita income up to half the minimum wage, prioritizing Bolsa Família recipients, with a 2026 budget estimated at R$5.1 billion.
• Beneficiaries must choose one modality: free withdrawal of full 13‑kg cylinders at accredited resellers or a cash benefit worth at least 50% of the national average cylinder price, with annual cylinder limits based on household size and a transition phasing out cash by 2027.
• Implementation will hinge on accrediting vendors and building oversight tools, including a national GLP price‑transparency system, the Selo Gás Legal certification, and penalties ranging from R$5,000 to R$50,000 up to de‑registration for noncompliance.
• The law also folds in sector measures such as allowing GLP use in certain industrial applications (excluding automotive), enabling accelerated depreciation for Brazil‑built oil‑product tankers, and creating a clean cooking track with rural biodigestors.