Senate approves fuel stabilization fund; text back to camera

After having the analysis postponed three times, the Federal Senate approved, this Thursday (10), PL 1472/20, which creates the Fuel Stabilization Account (CEP-Fuel). An important benefit added to the text was the gasoline aid, similar to the gas voucher, which the expansion was incorporated into this project, previously provided for in PLP 11/2020.

The payment of the new aid reaches taxi drivers, app drivers and motorcyclists, and according to the text, “emergency aid will be instituted to mitigate the extraordinary impacts on final consumer prices of gasoline”, with spending limited to public coffers. of BRL 3 billion. The project now goes to the Chamber for further analysis.

In the new text, the senators also approved that the “excess collection”, related to the forecast of the annual budget law, of Petrobras dividends paid to the Union, will be destined as a source of revenue for the fund. According to the report, royalties and special participations in the oil and gas sectors would also fuel the account.

The article faced resistance from the government and allies of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL-RJ). This is because, in the evaluation of the economic team, these resources would already be committed to other areas. In addition, pressure is growing for the creation of a subsidy program to prevent the rise in fuel prices.

Also according to the opinion, CEP Combustíveis will be regulated by an act of the Executive, after consultation with the National Petroleum Agency, which will define the way in which the resources are used and the parameters for reducing price volatility.

The text also provides that the accounts will be individualized by oil derivative and cooking gas, including natural gas derivatives, with the transfer of values ​​between products being prohibited.