Amazon navy unit migrating to Brazil's free power market

Urca Trading, the Urca Energia group's power trader, has won a Brazilian navy auction to migrate the Almirante Braz de Aguiar training center (CIABA) in Belém, capital of Pará state, to the free energy market. 

The center will be the first navy unit in the Amazon to migrate to the free market – where consumers can choose their own electricity suppliers – and consume renewable energy. 

The move comes amid preparations for Belém to host one of the world's most important environmental conferences, COP30, in November 2025.

“The scenario remains favorable for migration to the free energy market because customers are still paying less than in the regulated market,” Roni Wajnberg, commercial and marketing director at Urca Trading, told BNamericas.

He said the consumer profile sought by the company is those connected to medium and high voltages and who currently pay a monthly bill of at least 10,000 reais (US$1,730). 

In January of this year, all high-voltage customers – the so-called group A – were allowed to migrate from the regulated market to the free market. The government is looking at allowing access to the free market for low-voltage commercial and industrial units from 2026 and, finally, for homes from 2028.

The partnership between Urca and the navy is led by naval projects management company Emgepron, which is linked to the defense ministry and manages strategic programs for the navy and the naval industry.

As part of the naval energy program, Emgepron makes energy transition projects possible in military units. The aim is to reduce electricity costs, implement new energy-efficient technologies, increase the use of renewable energies and reduce the share of fossil fuels in the energy mix.

The CIABA contract will run from this month until September 2029 and involves a volume of 9,728.93MWh. It is estimated that the navy will save 42% in energy costs over the five years.

The Urca Energia group is a holding company that invests in intelligent and sustainable energy. Made up of Gás Verde, EVA Energia, Urca Trading and Urca Gás, the group operates in the free and regulated markets, offering environmental solutions from production to commercialization.