en.Wedoany.com Reported - On July 15, 2026, the state of Ceará, Brazil, began supplying piped natural gas to the Cariri region through the operation of the Cariri Natural Gas Distribution Station, a key initiative to expand the state's natural gas coverage. The project, promoted by Ceará Gas Company (Cegás) and with shareholders including Norgás, Grupo Energisa, and Mitsui, marks a significant milestone for the state's sustainable economic development, delivering piped natural gas for the first time to the cities of Crato, Juazeiro do Norte, and Barbalha (CRAJUBAR), which form one of the main economic centers in northeastern Brazil.
The Cariri project involved a total investment of 25 million reais, constructing a distribution station covering 10,000 square meters and approximately 42 kilometers of pipelines, with a daily distribution capacity of 50,000 cubic meters of natural gas. The region is home to over 200 small, medium, and large industrial enterprises, with a combined potential natural gas consumption of approximately 35,000 cubic meters per day, highlighting significant fuel consumption potential. This represents the largest expansion of Cegás's pipeline network into the interior since its inception. The project to bring piped natural gas to Cariri began in 2025 and, upon completion, achieved a long-term planning goal aimed at providing more efficient and competitive energy supply to the inland areas of Ceará.
Fabio Bertollo, President of Natural Gas at Grupo Energisa, stated that the natural gas distribution in Cariri represents a strategic advancement, reinforcing the group's commitment to a secure energy transition. He noted that extending natural gas to the interior is a crucial step in enhancing regional competitiveness and driving industrialization, and that this expansion highlights the transformative role of energy infrastructure in promoting regional development. The group's executive also emphasized that the delivery of this infrastructure strengthens the northeastern region's potential to attract investment and foster long-term sustainable development, linking economic growth, energy security, and innovation. The new infrastructure is designed to meet the region's expansion needs for years to come, serving users including industries, hotels, hospitals, restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, residential complexes, and gas stations, helping to reduce energy costs, enhance business competitiveness, and attract new investments. The first industrial user connected to the system, the Trevo Drywall factory, is already operational and is expected to consume approximately 21,000 cubic meters of natural gas per day, accounting for over 40% of the pipeline's initial capacity.
José Eduardo Marzagão Filho, President of Cegás, stated that the arrival of natural gas in Cariri marks the beginning of a new growth cycle for one of the state's most dynamic regions. This strategic infrastructure will enhance business competitiveness, strengthen investment attractiveness, create job opportunities, and prepare the region for sustainable development.
Founded in 1905, Grupo Energisa is one of the largest private groups in Brazil's electricity sector, with operations spanning nine electricity distribution companies, 13 transmission concessions, centralized photovoltaic plants, distributed photovoltaic power generation, and natural gas distribution and sales. In July 2023, the group entered the natural gas sector by acquiring ES Gás, and since November 2024, it has acquired partial assets of Cegás, Copergás, Algás, and Potigás. The group also engages in the production and sale of biological solutions (agro-industrial waste treatment, biomethane, biofertilizers) through bioprocessing plants, serving over 20 million people in 939 municipalities across the country and creating more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.
