Oversight is being reinforced to contain the rise in fuel prices

Amid the prolongation of the war in the Middle East, the government announced this Monday (28) new measures to try to contain the rise in fuel prices caused by the increase in international oil prices, whose barrel remains above US$ 100.

Among the actions are the maintenance of the subsidy of R$ 2.12 per liter of diesel, announced last Saturday, new inspections at gas stations and distributors, and increased fines for companies that engage in conduct considered abusive.

Diesel subsidy

The Ministry of Finance published, on Friday (25) night, Ordinance No. 2,946/2026, which maintains the subsidy of R$ 2.12 per liter of diesel oil.

With the end of the validity of Provisional Measure (MP) 1,363, the benefit is now fully supported by MP 1,391, enacted last day 11.

The measure is part of the strategy adopted by the government to reduce the effects of the volatility of international oil and fuel prices.

Heavy Load Operation

Another line of action is the Heavy Load Operation, which brings together federal agencies and consumer protection agencies from all over the country to inspect possible increases considered unjustified in profit margins.

From September 21 to 25, 241 inspection actions were carried out:

• 87 actions by the National Agency of Petroleum (ANP);
• 86 actions by the consumer protection agencies;
• 12 actions by the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) of the Ministry of Justice;
• 30 joint operations by ANP with Procons;
• 26 joint operations by ANP with Senacon.

The operation was launched after an emergency meeting of Senacon with more than 140 representatives of Procons.

According to the government, the mobilization took into account the recent rise in fuel prices, data from previous inspections, and about 330 complaints received by ANP.

Seventy proceedings

In addition to the new inspections, Senacon opened 70 administrative sanctioning proceedings against gas stations and distributors.

The proceedings were initiated based on notices of violation previously sent by ANP.

The investigation seeks to verify possible abusive practices related to fuel prices.

Fines of R$ 700 million

ANP also imposed fines that, combined, exceed R$ 700 million against fuel distributors for abusive price increases.

The penalties result from inspections carried out previously and from first-instance administrative decisions in proceedings arising from notices of violation.

The companies can still appeal the decisions.

According to ANP, the cases involve conduct carried out during the validity of Provisional Measures 1,340 and 1,349, which gave the agency the authority to monitor increases deemed abusive in prices.

In some of the cases analyzed, the gross margin of distributors is said to have increased by more than 1,350%, according to the administrative decisions cited by the government.

Higher penalties

The government also stiffened the penalties for certain abusive practices in the fuels sector.

Provisional Measure 1,393, published on Friday (25), amended the Consumer Protection Code (CDC) and established specific fines for violations committed by agents in the fuels chain.

Among the conduct provided for is unjustified price increases. In these cases, the administrative fine may range from R$ 20,000 to R$ 500 million.

The new rule determines that, for these infractions, the general fine limit provided for in the Consumer Protection Code will not apply.

Diesel guaranteed

Despite pressure on international prices, the government says diesel supply in the country is guaranteed.

For October, estimated demand is 3.95 million cubic meters, while confirmed supply reaches 3.978 million cubic meters.

The country also has stocks of approximately 1.97 million cubic meters, a volume estimated by the government as sufficient for about 15 days of consumption.

Weekly monitoring

Since March, a task force coordinated by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has been tracking the fuel market on a weekly basis.

Public agencies and representatives of the private sector take part in the group.

The monitoring considers, among other points:

• the international oil scenario;
• import flows;
• fuel distribution;
• demand projections;
• risks to the national supply.

The monitoring has a two-month horizon and aims to anticipate possible supply problems.

With the new measures, the government combines the maintenance of the diesel subsidy with price inspections, administrative proceedings and increased penalties for players in the sector.