Government extends R$ 0.44 per liter gasoline subsidy for 30 days

The federal government has decided to extend the R$ 0.44 per liter gasoline subsidy for 30 days, a measure aimed at protecting the Brazilian consumer from rising fuel prices. The extension of the benefit, which will take effect starting this Sunday (26), was made official by the Minister of Finance, Dario Durigan, in an ordinance signed on Thursday night (23).

The decision was motivated by the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which caused a new spike in the price of Brent crude oil in the international market, surpassing the US$ 100 mark. The scenario of instability, aggravated by attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea, altered economic projections that initially anticipated the end of the benefit this month.

The subsidy functions as an economic grant paid by the government to producers and importers through the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). In practice, the mechanism absorbs part of the cost increase for refineries, preventing international market volatility from being fully passed on to prices at gas stations.

In addition to gasoline, the government maintains the R$ 1.12 per liter subsidy for diesel, which had its validity extended by the National Congress for 60 days through Provisional Measure 1.363. It is worth remembering that another benefit aimed at diesel, in the amount of R$ 0.35, was revoked at the beginning of July due to the stabilization of the barrel price at the time.

To complement price control strategies, the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) recently authorized an increase in the anhydrous ethanol blend in gasoline to 32%. The measure, valid for 180 days, seeks to reduce dependence on petroleum-derived fuel and mitigate the effects of inflation on the transport of cargo and passengers.

The economic team emphasized that the maintenance of the gasoline subsidy depends on continuous evaluations of the global scenario. According to current rules, the Minister of Finance has the autonomy to alter or end the subsidy, provided that beneficiaries are notified 15 days in advance.