Copa Energia GNLink Deal to Expand LNG Capacity in Brazil

Copa Energia GNLink deal marks a major step forward in expanding Brazil’s small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure. With a R$100 million investment, Copa Energia has acquired a 36% stake in GNLink, a Lorinvest company, fueling a new investment cycle that aims to double the distributor’s liquefaction capacity.

GNLink plans to end 2025 with three operational LNG plants located in Paraná, Bahia, and Rio Grande do Norte, reaching a total capacity of 290,000 m³/day. The new capital will support this current growth phase and kick-start a second wave of investment focused on Brazil’s South and Southeast regions.

Pedro Turqueto, CEO of Copa Energia, explained that Copa Energia’s GNLink investment is a strategic response to Brazil’s expanding gas supply and infrastructure gaps. “We know there will be abundant gas molecules in Brazil—but we need to unlock the logistics to actually use them,” he said in an interview with Estúdio Eixos.

The move aligns with Copa Energia’s broader plan to diversify beyond LPG. In 2024, the company entered the compressed natural gas (CNG) market by acquiring CTG and also began exploring biomethane opportunities. Turqueto added that GNLink may be used for future biomethane liquefaction, depending on evolving market conditions.

GNLink CEO Marcelo Rodrigues confirmed that this first investment phase by Copa Energia will wrap by 2025, followed by a second phase through 2027 to double current capacity. He emphasized that demand is rising in sectors like transportation, thermoelectric generation, and state gas utilities.

“We are well positioned in the Northeast and beginning to build presence in the South. The Southeast is our next frontier,” Rodrigues stated, noting that LNG availability in the region remains limited and competitively challenging.

⚖️ Legal Background for Copa Energia GNLink Deal

While the legal advisors for this specific GNLink deal have not been publicly disclosed, sources tell us that Copa Energia retained the law firm Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados for key operation. Additionally, BMA Advogados has acted for counterparties such as Ultragaz in related LPG-sector matters.

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A Copa Energia anunciou um investimento de R$ 100 milhões, adquirindo 36% da GNLink, subsidiária da Lorinvest, com o objetivo de dobrar sua capacidade de liquefação de GNL no Brasil até 2027  . A GNLink já opera duas plantas em Paraná e Bahia, e uma terceira está em construção no Rio Grande do Norte; a expectativa é alcançar 290 000 m³/dia até o fim de 2025  . A parceria reforça a estratégia da Copa Energia de diversificar sua matriz (LPG, CNG, GNL e biometano), visando atender uma demanda crescente por combustíveis mais limpos e ampliar o acesso ao gás nas regiões Sul e Sudeste.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Copa Energia invertirá R$ 100 millones para adquirir el 36% de GNLink, firma del grupo Lorinvest, con el objetivo de duplicar su capacidad de licuefacción de LNG en Brasil para 2027  . GNLink opera actualmente dos plantas en Paraná y Bahía, y una tercera se construye en Río Grande do Norte, proyectando alcanzar los 290 000 m³/día para finales de 2025  . Esta alianza estratégica acompaña el plan de diversificación de Copa Energia —que ya incluye GLP, GNC, GNL y biometano— y apunta a ampliar el acceso a combustibles más limpios en el sur y sudeste del país, ante una demanda en crecimiento