Minister Alexandre Silveira uses prejudiced expression against Japan in defense of equal treatment

Alexandre Silveira, Minister of Mines and Energy, made a prejudiced statement while defending the application of equitable treatment by Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A (PPSA) for economic agents who seek out the state-owned company for the purpose of acquiring natural gas, on July 30, 2026.

PPSA, a state-owned company directly linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, plays a crucial role in the energy sector by being responsible for the commercialization of natural gas belonging to the Union. Its actions are fundamental for the supply and dynamics of the energy market in the country, ensuring that the pre-salt wealth is distributed.

During an event focused on the Union’s recent guidelines for the commercialization of natural gas, Silveira expressed that economic agents “are all the same”, using the phrase “a truckload of Japanese”, and that everyone should receive identical treatment, without any distinction, in commercial negotiations.

Minister Alexandre Silveira declared: “When economic agents look for a manager, they have to be treated like a Japanese truck. They are all the same. You don’t have a pet agent. At least it’s the right one for those who are serving the country on this side of the table.”

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) published a statement on a new resolution from the National Energy Policy Council, which establishes changes to the rules for the commercialization of natural gas belonging to the Union.

This resolution also authorizes the direct sale of the product to the free market, which will be done through auctions organized by PPSA.

The new measure implements auctions with different periods: short-term, scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2030, and long-term, which will start in 2030.

Both the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and PPSA plan to hold the first auction in 2026, in accordance with their expectations.