Petrobras has signed a natural gas supply agreement with Cerbras, marking a key milestone in the expansion of Brazil’s free natural gas market in the Northeast. The contract, effective from March 1, makes Cerbras, the largest non-thermoelectric gas consumer in Ceará, the first industrial player in the region to migrate to the free market with Petrobras as its supplier. The deal comes amid growing momentum in Brazil’s liberalized gas market, supported by regulatory modernization led by the State Regulatory Agency of Ceará. Both companies highlighted the rapid negotiation process and strong technical alignment. The agreement strengthens Petrobras’ regional footprint and supports industrial consumers seeking greater pricing flexibility, competitiveness, and energy cost predictability.
In a significant development for Brazil’s evolving energy landscape, Petrobras has entered into a natural gas supply agreement with Cerbras, reinforcing the expansion of the free natural gas market in Brazil’s Northeast region. The contract is set to take effect from March 1 and marks the first instance of a major industrial consumer in Ceará sourcing natural gas from Petrobras under the free-market framework.
Cerbras, currently the largest non-thermoelectric natural gas consumer in Ceará, becomes the first company in the region to migrate to the free gas market with Petrobras as its supplier. The agreement strengthens Petrobras’ regional presence at a time when Brazil’s industrial sector is increasingly prioritizing pricing flexibility, cost predictability, and improved energy efficiency.
The deal comes amid rapid growth in Brazil’s free natural gas market, driven by large industrial players seeking greater autonomy over supply contracts. In Ceará, this transition has been further supported by regulatory advancements introduced by the State Regulatory Agency of Ceará, which recently modernized the state’s regulatory framework to facilitate free-market participation.
Commenting on the development, Álvaro Tupiassú, Executive Manager of Gas and Energy at Petrobras, noted that the agreement with Cerbras expands the company’s commercial and contractual strategy in the region, underscoring Petrobras’ broader push to grow its footprint in competitive gas markets.
For Cerbras, the contract represents a strategic milestone rather than a routine supply arrangement. Mariana Montenegro Bastos Mota, Industrial Vice-President of Cerbras, described the agreement as a historic step for both the company and the Northeast’s industrial sector, highlighting Petrobras’ recognition of Cerbras’ operational capabilities, governance standards, and technical preparedness. She also emphasized the speed and efficiency of the negotiations as a reflection of strong alignment between the two organizations.
Both companies pointed to the swift conclusion of negotiations as evidence of effective coordination, technical compatibility, and responsiveness across teams on both sides.
The agreement also builds on Petrobras’ recent diversification into the ceramics industry. In 2025, the company secured a contract with the largest natural gas consumer in the ceramics sector in Santa Catarina, marking its formal entry into supplying gas to this segment.
Brazil’s free natural gas market allows eligible industrial consumers to select suppliers and directly negotiate pricing, volumes, and contract terms. This model is increasingly reshaping the country’s energy market, fostering competition among suppliers and offering industrial users greater control over energy costs.
