The company Energía Argentina SA (Enarsa) agreed with Bolivia continue the supply of gas to the demand of seven provinces in the center and north of the country during the winter, after problems in the supply were recorded and while waiting for the Reversal of the Northern Gasduct ends in September.
The Enarsa agreement, which was signed with Bolivian Fiscal Oil Fields (YPFB), this is the ninth addendum to the contract that unites them to have the supply of natural gas for northern Argentina in August and September. The bond expired on July 31 after decades of validity and has now been extended for two more months for the Reversal of the Northern Gas Pipeline to complete and Vaca Muerta to cover the resources.
In this sense, regarding the scope of the agreement, the company explained that “this supply will allow the central/northern area of the country to be supplied.” with up to 4 million cubic meters per day (MMm3/day) depending on the requirement of internal demand, while the Northern Gasduct Reversal project, currently underway, is completed.
He also specified that “said TGN gas pipeline reversal project is estimated to be in operation on September 15.” allowing to bring to the northern provinces an additional 5 MMm3/day to the current ones and in a second stage another 4 MMm3/day.”
The Reversal of the Northern Gas Pipeline will be completed in September
The reversal of the Northern Gasducta strategic work for bring gas to the north of the country from Vaca Muertawill be completed by September next, according to official and private sources. The work will make it possible to supply Bolivia’s declining gas supply, which is no longer able to cover its own demand.
The “reversal” already included the regular line welding of sections 2 and 3, the first 100 kilometers of the so-called “Federal Integration Gasduct” – out of a total of 122 km – that extends from Tío Pujio to La Carlota, in Córdoba. , linking the Central-West and North Gas Pipelines.
To shorten work times, an automatic welding system was used (the same one applied in the GPNK) and 4,059 welds were already carried out in 41 days.
The work progresses with the construction of the remaining 22 kilometers of the Gasduct, 62 kilometers of loops to the Northern Gas Pipeline at the height of Ferreyra and the City of Córdoba and the change of direction of 4 compressor plants, with a completion date for the works scheduled for the end of August.” Techint and Sacde finished those welding, but still They did not collect them from the national State, which owed them some $14,000 million from May, which were covered with credit from commercial banks.
The total budget for the work is US$720 million, of which the US$540 million credit from the Latin American Bank covers three quarters.
