Alexandre Silveira highlights the People's Gas program as the largest program to combat energy poverty on the planet.

247 - The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, highlighted this Tuesday (10/14) the relevance of the program People's Gas, which ensures Free cooking gas supply for 17 million Brazilian families., reaching about 60 million people throughout the country. The statements were made during the program. Good morning, Minister and reproduced by Gov Agency, via If with.

Silveira classified the initiative as "the largest social program to combat energy poverty on the planet", highlighting its impact on the lives of the most vulnerable families and its relationship with the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) of the UN.

 "The People's Gas program is a great social program. It is the largest social program to combat energy poverty on the planet," the minister stated.
“[The People's Gas] is a national public health program that fulfills an international commitment under UN SDG-7. It is a program that will allow for more money to go into the pockets of the Brazilian people,” he added.

Combating energy poverty and providing financial relief.

O People's Gas It replaces and expands the old one. Gas Allowance, tripling the number of beneficiaries and establishing itself as one of the largest access policies to clean cooking worldwide. The program not only guarantees the free supply of gas cylinders, but also contributes to... public health, food safety and improvement in quality of life of families in vulnerable situations.

As eligibility rules They prioritize families registered in Single, with a monthly income of up to Half the minimum wage per person (R$ 759), and beneficiaries of Family Bag.

Silveira compared the new program to the previous model, highlighting the change in the benefit format:

 “Currently, the Gas Assistance program only serves 5,4 million families. Now, we will serve 17 million families. And with another difference: the Gas Assistance program is a monetary aid. And often, due to a lack of money to buy other things, this money is used and gas is not purchased. Now, that will change. Now, people will leave the more than 58 gas stations in Brazil with a gas cylinder in hand.”

Implementation by March 2026

The minister informed that the government is working to Start implementing the program in November., with the goal of to serve the entire beneficiary population by March of next year..

 “We are working daily to ensure its implementation starting in November. We want it to be fully implemented in Brazil by the end of March,” Silveira stated.

O People's Gas This is part of the government's commitment to ODS 7 from the UN, which aims to "ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all".

The "Light of the People" program expands access to electricity.

During the interview, the minister also provided details about the People's Light program, which guarantees access to quality electricity at a fair price for millions of Brazilians. The initiative offers free electricity bill for consumers of Social Tariff for Electric Energy (TSEE) with monthly consumption of up to 80 kWh.

In addition, the program creates a Social Discount for Electricity, which exempts the payment of Energy Development Account (CDE) for families registered in the CadÚnico with a monthly income between half and a minimum wage per capita, and consumption of up to 120 kWhWith these measures, approximately 21 million families, or 55 million people, they may benefit from a average reduction of 11,8% in energy bills.

Silveira also emphasized that the program paves the way for a expansion of the free energy marketallowing citizens to choose their energy supplier and source.

 “The provisional measure we sent to the National Congress was structural. Its first axis was the social program. The second axis is the complete and total opening of the market. Any citizen can buy and choose the energy source from which they will purchase energy,” he explained.

According to the minister, the CDE discount will also benefit part of the middle class, making the Light of the People a “large social program”.

 "I fully trust that the National Congress will have a good debate and deliver a good bill," he stated.

Clean energy and social justice

With the programs People's Gas e Light of the Peoplethe federal government seeks reduce energy inequality, guarantee universal access to clean energy e strengthen social inclusionThese two initiatives solidify Brazil's position as a global leader in... fair energy transition and combating energy poverty.