The milder temperatures allowed relief in the energy system after the crisis due to the gas shortage that occurred at the end of May. But the problems seem difficult to solve in the short term and any inconvenience or even maintenance tasks can renew tension and restrictions. That is what happened this Thursday when the cuts returned to industries and CNG stations with interruptible contracts in various parts of the country.
As TN learned, it was the result of a technical stoppage on the Escobar regasification ship, where the ships arrive with LNG that the Government purchased to complete the local gas supply. The operation did not affect the arrival of new ships with imported gas, although it did prevent gas from being injected into the pipelines that transport fuel throughout the country for a few hours.
Since these pipelines require a certain pressure, the cuts occur to avoid major failures in the interconnected system. This time, the restrictions only affected a handful of users with interruptible contracts, that is, those who pay cheaper for gas but are susceptible to interruptions until further notice. Last month, in the midst of the gas shortage, some 200 CNG stations and industries with this type of contracts were without supply for more than 15 days.
At the peak of the crisis, on Wednesday, May 29, the cuts were extended to CNG stations throughout the country and to a hundred industries with a firm contract due to the emergency generated by a payment problem with a ship that arrived from Brazil and did not discharge and a failure in two plants of the central-west gas pipeline operated by TGN.
More ships and gas from Bolivia and works for the gas pipeline to Vaca Muerta: the keys to strengthening the energy system
After the shortages, the Government reinforced the arrival of ships with LNG from abroad. Since last weekend, the Escobar terminal receives ships every 3 days, to ensure that there is no shortage at times of high demand. Thus, the regasification ship injects about 18 million m3 per day.
This Thursday’s technical stoppage implied about 7 million m3 less in the transportation system, which led to cuts to interruptible users in the central and northern areas of the country, which were restored before night.
For the strong season of gas imports, the state-owned Enarsa purchased another 9 ships – which were added to the 20 already acquired and with arrivals scheduled between June and August -. The prices of the latest purchases were 30% more expensive than those achieved at the beginning of the year.
In addition to gas by ship, shipments from Bolivia are added, which average 5 million m3 per day.
The Government, meanwhile, is speeding up the works on the compressor plants of the gas pipeline to Vaca Muerta. The Secretary of Energy, Eduardo Rodríguez Chirillo, said this Friday that tests will begin on June 14 for the start-up of theTrayén plant, so that it will be operational on June 24. It will allow for another 5 million m3 per day in the system.
Meanwhile, Salliqueló is scheduled for mid-August. With both plants, the gas pipeline to Vaca Muerta will inject 22 million m3 per day, double what it is today.
