In January, the state government of São Paulo enacted Law No. 16,933/2019, which regulates the institutes of contract extension, early extension, and rebidding in the State of São Paulo. This law is similar to the rules set forth in Law No. 13,448/2017, which governs the same institutes in the federal public administration sphere.

In a letter sent to Cade, ANP analyzes measures necessary to promote competition in the natural gas market and advocates for the implementation of a gas release program to ensure a smooth transition.

A draft legislative decree (PDC) is pending before the National Congress which scope is to eliminate the provision for mandatory registration as “support facilities for water transport” of FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regasification Units – i.e., gas vessels) with Antaq (the National Agency of Waterway Transport).

On the eve of the end of the government and with frustrated expectations regarding the advance of Bill No. 6,407/2013 (the Gas Bill), President Michel Temer enacted on December 17, Decree No. 9,616 in order to amend Decree No. 7,382/2010, which regulated Chapters I to V and VIII of the Gas Law.

In accordance with a "strategic reflection" process that redefines its central role in financing transactions to a profile that is more complementary to the capital market, BNDES has announced new financing conditions that establish priority areas for development of Brazil’s infrastructure, with smaller spreads and longer grace and amortization periods, aiming at the promotion of target sectors of the economy.

Antaq contemplated the main changes brought in by Decree No. 9,048/17 in relation to private port terminals (TUPs) in Normative Resolution No. 20/2018, published in May of this year, and revoked the previous resolution on the subject (Resolution No. 3,290/14).

Awaited since November of 2017, the Sanitation Presidential Decree was finally promulgated on July 9. Despite the differences with respect to the versions submitted for public consultation, the rule maintained its foundations, which, if confirmed via its conversion into law, will increase the participation of private enterprise in the sector, thus favoring the structuring of new projects.

On May 29, the federal government published the initial drafts of the call for bids and concession contract for the new round of federal concessions, which will include 13 airports, distributed in three blocks:

On December 13, President Michel Temer signed Presidential Decree (MP) No. 863, which extinguished the 20% limit on the participation of foreign capital in Brazilian airlines.

In view of Brazil's current economic scenario, many companies have filed applications for judicial reorganization as a way of renegotiating their debts in order to maintain their activities and carry out their corporate purpose. Often, they must resort to this procedure without prior approval by the general meeting, which is pending further confirmation per the terms of article 122, sole paragraph, of the Brazilian Corporations Law.

With the issuance of GM Ordinance No. 517/2018, the Ministry of Transport, Ports, and Civil Aviation provided guidance, at the beginning of October, on the procedures and requirements for the approval of investment projects as a priority in the area of ​​infrastructure, in the logistics and transport sector, and for the issuance of incentive debentures. The text of the rule puts into effect the provisions of article 2 of Law No. 12,431/2011, which regulates the conditions for the offer of incentive debentures with the objective of financing priority investment projects.

The collision of the Tunisian-flagged container ship Ulysse with the Cypriot-flagged freighter CLS Virginia near the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea in early October spilled dozens of cubic meters of fuel oil and mobilized French and Italians in an attempt to contain the oil spill in the sea. The oil slick stretched for about 20 kilometers towards the French coast in a strip 100 meters wide. The authorities involved have not yet disclosed the cause of the accident, but given the good conditions of visibility and weather, the accident was probably caused by human error.[1]