Brasil concludes BRICS workshops on energy transition, climate resilience, and decarbonization of the oil and gas sector
From the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy
The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (Ministério de Minas e Energia /MME) concluded this week the technical workshops in the context of the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform (ERCP). The activities are part of the agenda proposed by the Brazilian presidency of the group.
The workshops gathered experts and authorities from Brasil, Russia, India, China, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates to promote the exchange of experiences and good practices on strategic issues related to the energy transition.
The dialogues reinforced the BRICS mobilization around a shared energy agenda for the next five years, anchored in the promotion of energy transitions that are just, safe, and inclusive.
Over the course of the three-day event, participants identified the complex challenges faced by BRICS countries — such as the high cost of financing, the vulnerability of infrastructure to climate change, and the need to decarbonize high-emission sectors.
The exchanges also allowed for the identification of strategic opportunities for technical cooperation, the development of regional value chains, and the attraction of new investments in innovation and sustainable infrastructure.
In this sense, the workshops consolidated the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation as a relevant platform for the coordination of solutions adapted to the contexts and priorities of the developing countries. Moreover, they contributed to the preparation of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Energy, scheduled for May 19 in Brasília, Federal District
Issues discussed
On the first day, discussions addressed ways to bolster initiatives to finance the energy transition, with a focus on capital mobilization for sustainable projects, strengthening collaboration among the energy and finance sectors, and the definition of sustainability standards for financial institutions.
Energy planning approaches that enhance predictability and better integrate social and environmental dimensions into investment decisions were also discussed. Another key topic was the financing of geological mapping and the exploration of critical minerals, which are essential for advancing clean energy technologies such as batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.
The discussions also addressed the need to strengthen the resilience of electrical infrastructure in the face of climate change. Countries shared national solutions for adapting their grids to extreme events, including the deployment of new technologies and adjustments in the planning and operation of electrical systems.
Participants further examined the challenges of integrating variable renewable energy sources while maintaining safety and stability, as well as the need for more flexible regulatory frameworks that enable concessionaires to respond more effectively to major energy supply disruptions.
The discussions focused on strategies to decarbonize the oil and gas sector, with an emphasis on upstream operations. Best practices were discussed for adopting regulatory measures capable of accelerating emissions reductions, as well as innovative approaches for methane emissions control and monitoring, and pathways to enable carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCS and CCUS) technologies from both technical and economic perspectives.
Brazilian institutions
Brasil was represented in the technical discussions by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Energy Research Company (EPE), the Geological Survey of Brasil (SGB), the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL), the National System Operator (ONS), and Petrobras.