Brazil Ministry of Mines and Energy announces energy transmission schedule

The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has released a schedule for seven energy transmission auctions to be held between 2027 and 2029. The auctions aim to expand the national electrical system, with public sessions planned for April and October each year, plus an additional session in December 2027.

A new requirement mandates that agents requesting new installations must sign a Transmission System Use Contract (Cust) with the National Electric System Operator (ONS) within specified deadlines. This measure is intended to prevent the construction of assets before load confirmation, thereby avoiding unnecessary costs to consumers from idle infrastructure.

Separately, the Decennial Energy Expansion Plan (PDE) 2036 projects that Brazil's final energy consumption will grow by an average of 1.8% annually through 2036. Electricity demand is expected to rise by 3.4% per year, reaching 979 TWh, as the country shifts toward greater electrification and natural gas use.