‘Green Concession’ to be first topic in Brazil’s experimental regulatory environment

As the first initiative to be implemented under its experimental regulatory environment — known as a regulatory sandbox — the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ) has chosen the “Outorga Verde” (Green Concession) project.

Applications from companies interested in participating in ANTAQ’s first regulatory sandbox project will open on November 10 and run through December 9. The public notice will be published next Monday (3), and the final results are expected to be released in February 2026.

The initiative aims to select companies interested in occupying and developing underused areas within organized ports to implement innovative projects focused on the energy transition, involving emerging technologies and associated work methods.

In her report, Director and Rapporteur Flávia Takafashi stated that “bringing the energy transition theme into this experimental environment will be a way to stimulate innovation in the port sector, promoting alignment between public policy, regulatory innovation, and environmental commitment.”

A regulatory sandbox allows companies to test innovative products and services for a limited period under rules that differ from the standard framework, under the Agency’s supervision. At the end of this period, the potential benefits or risks to society are evaluated.

Modernizing the sector
The implementation of the Outorga Verde project will help modernize Brazil’s port sector, support the country’s international commitments, and foster a culture rooted in sustainability.

According to Takafashi, “Brazilian ports, due to their extensive coastline and importance in national and international logistics chains, can become industrial and logistics hubs of reference for the low-carbon economy.”

She also highlighted that the Outorga Verde project “is extremely important for attracting innovation hubs to public ports, adding value to the theme and to the entire port ecosystem.”

Additionally, she noted that ports already handle equipment and supplies for renewable energy projects, have potential to host production, storage, and export centers for green fuels, and can support the bunkering of vessels with cleaner fuels.

Participation criteria
The four-year project will cover areas such as renewable energy generation; infrastructure for alternative fuels; electrification of port operations; bunkering of clean fuels; innovation and technology development aimed at decarbonization and sustainability; well-to-wake analysis; development of new technologies such as Onshore Power Supply (OPS) and electrification; and adaptation to climate change and resilience. Investments must be made exclusively by the concession holder.

The sandbox’s structure will include establishing a specific management committee, publishing a public call and selecting proposals, submitting projects with letters of commitment from port authorities, evaluation and approval by ANTAQ’s Board of Directors, formalization of temporary authorizations with detailed terms and conditions, and finally, execution of concession contracts with ANTAQ’s participation.

The report also notes that for projects involving non-operational areas, prior approval from the Ministry of Ports and Airports — as the granting authority — will be required before ANTAQ’s final approval.

Benefits
The regulatory sandbox will enable the development of innovative business models and the testing of experimental techniques and technologies, following predefined criteria and through a streamlined process.

This mechanism enhances governance and regulatory stability while allowing certain economic activities to begin without the need for immediate new regulations aligned with emerging business models.

The model applies to specific situations via public calls with defined participation rules and criteria. The sandbox allows new rules to be tested on small groups before broader rollout, fostering a culture of technological innovation.

Source: Antaq

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