Rio de Janeiro signs IFC deal to structure gas distribution concession

The Rio de Janeiro state government contracted the IFC to structure a new natural gas distribution concession model, with a fixed fee of R$14 million plus a R$6 million success fee paid by the future concession winner. This signals a move toward privatizing or re-tendering the state's gas distribution, potentially attracting private investment and reshaping the local energy market. The outcome depends on the bidding process and regulatory details, which remain to be defined.