Brazil LNG regasification capacity more than doubled between 2020 and August 2025, rising from 2.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) to 5.1 Bcf/d, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Eight floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) are now operational, with a ninth — the Suape terminal in Pernambuco — expected to add 0.7 Bcf/d when it comes online in early 2026.
Brazil LNG Regasification: Eight FSRUs in Operation
Three major terminals were commissioned in 2024 alone, adding approximately 1.74 Bcf/d of new capacity. New Fortress Energy’s Barcarena FSRU contributed 0.75 Bcf/d; Terminal Gás Sul added 0.50 Bcf/d; and Compass Gás & Energia’s Cosan terminal added a further 0.50 Bcf/d.
These joined five earlier facilities across the country’s coastline:
| Terminal | Capacity (Bcf/d) |
|---|---|
| Guanabara Bay FSRU | 0.80 |
| Porto do Açu FSRU | 0.74 |
| Sergipe FSRU | 0.74 |
| Bahia FSRU | 0.71 |
| Sepetiba Bay FSRU | 0.36 |
The Suape FSRU in Pernambuco is under construction and scheduled for early 2026 commissioning, which will bring total nameplate Brazil LNG regasification capacity to approximately 5.8 Bcf/d.
LNG-to-Power: The Structural Driver
Each Brazilian regasification terminal is paired with nearby gas-fired power generation — a deliberate infrastructure model that ties import capacity directly to grid reliability. At Barcarena, New Fortress Energy is constructing the 2.2 GW Novo Tempo Barcarena Power Station alongside the FSRU, making the terminal a fully integrated LNG-to-power facility.
Two pieces of federal legislation underpinned the expansion. Federal Law 14,182/2021 mandated 8 GW of new regionalised gas-fired power capacity, creating guaranteed demand for LNG import infrastructure. The New Gas Law (14,134/2021) ended Petrobras’s monopoly on gas production and distribution, opening access to private developers and enabling multi-user terminal structures that made independent investment viable.
Backup for a Renewable-Heavy Grid
Approximately 80% of Brazil’s electricity generation comes from hydropower, wind, and solar. Hydropower alone accounted for 56% of total generation in 2024 — but reservoir levels in key regions fell to 29% of capacity during last year’s drought season, forcing increased dispatch from LNG-fed gas plants.
The structural role of Brazil LNG regasification is not discretionary: it provides the rapid-response backup capacity that a grid dominated by weather-dependent renewables requires. FSRUs can receive spot cargoes within days of a procurement decision, making them significantly more flexible than pipeline gas contracts during supply stress events.
Brazil’s LNG infrastructure expansion forms part of a wider South American energy diversification trend. OGSN’s coverage of Europe’s contrasting LNG trajectory illustrates how demand-side conditions are shaping terminal investment differently across markets.
US Dominates Supply; Long-Term Contracts on the Rise
The United States supplied 72% of Brazil’s LNG imports in 2024, with most cargoes traded on the spot market to accommodate seasonal demand swings. Brazil is now shifting toward long-term supply agreements to reduce price exposure. Centrica and Petrobras signed a 15-year supply deal covering 0.8 million tonnes per year from 2027. New Fortress Energy has also secured industrial offtake contracts with Norsk Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery for supply into the Barcarena terminal.
Brazil supplements LNG with pipeline gas imports from Bolivia and Argentina via the GASBOL pipeline. Domestic offshore production reached 5.4 Bcf/d in 2024, with offshore fields supplying 85% of output — though more than half is reinjected for reservoir pressure maintenance rather than entering the domestic gas market.
2026 Outlook for Brazil LNG Regasification
The Suape terminal commissioning is the single most significant near-term event for Brazil LNG regasification capacity. Beyond that, the market is watching whether the long-term contracting trend accelerates as Brazilian utilities and industrials seek to lock in supply ahead of the 2027 Centrica-Petrobras volumes coming online.
For broader context on global LNG infrastructure investment, see the Top 10 LNG Terminals in the World 2026 and OGSN’s analysis of the 2026 LNG storage infrastructure surge.
What is Brazil’s total LNG regasification capacity in 2025?
Brazil’s LNG regasification capacity reached 5.1 Bcf/d as of August 2025, up from 2.5 Bcf/d in 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Suape FSRU in Pernambuco is expected to add a further 0.7 Bcf/d when it comes online in early 2026.
How many LNG import terminals does Brazil operate?
Brazil operates eight FSRUs as of late 2025, located at Guanabara Bay, Porto do Açu, Sergipe, Bahia, Sepetiba Bay, Barcarena, Terminal Gás Sul, and the Cosan/Compass terminal. A ninth facility at Suape is under construction.
Why is Brazil expanding its LNG import infrastructure?
Brazil’s grid relies heavily on hydropower, which is vulnerable to drought. LNG-fired gas plants provide rapid-response backup capacity during dry periods. Federal legislation also mandated 8 GW of new regional gas power capacity, creating structural demand for regasification infrastructure.
Who supplies LNG to Brazil?
The United States supplied 72% of Brazil’s LNG imports in 2024, predominantly through spot market cargoes. Brazil is increasingly pursuing long-term supply contracts, including a 15-year Centrica-Petrobras deal covering 0.8 million tonnes per year from 2027.
What is the New Gas Law and how did it affect Brazil’s LNG market?
Federal Law 14,134/2021, known as the New Gas Law, ended Petrobras’s monopoly on gas production and distribution in Brazil. It enabled private developers to invest in LNG import infrastructure and introduced multi-user terminal access, which accelerated the FSRU buildout from 2021 onwards.