Former Secretary of Energy of the Nation, Darío Martínez, harshly criticized the management of Javier Milei’s government in energy matters, highlighting the high costs involved in importing Bolivian gas due to the suspension of key works. “The improvisation and ignorance of the Government cost another 185 million dollars to the country,” he said.
The former Secretary of Energy of the Nation, Darío Martínez, attacked the energy management of Javier Milei’s government, accusing the administration of “improvisation and ignorance” that have led to excessive costs in the import of Bolivian gas. Martínez expressed that these decisions resulted in an additional expense of US$ 185 million for the country.
Martínez explained that the initial suspension of the reversal work on the Northern Gasduct and the compression of GNK I forced the country to import more liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Bolivian gas at prices significantly higher than those of Vaca Muerta gas. “Ineffectiveness, underestimation, plus the Government’s lack of knowledge about energy matters, only make energy cost more and more for the country, for each consumer and for the State.”he claimed.
When the Milei government took office, decisions were made that, according to Martínez, were driven by a liberal ideological vision that underestimated the importance of certain essential public works. “His chancellor, who was his Minister of Public Works and his Secretary of Energy denigrated both public works and the GNK and the reversal of the Northern Gasduct. With that obtuse foundation loaded with liberal ideologism, they suspended both works.”said the former Alberto Fernández official.
Martínez warned at the time about the consequences of suspending these works, indicating that this would lead to a greater deficit for the State and an increase in energy costs. “To supply northern Argentina, they were going to depend exclusively on Bolivian gas, at the infinite price they wanted to set given the extreme need and the weakness of our Government. In Milei terms: a price derived from an urgent demand and a unique supply”he added.
The lack of reversal of the Northern Gasduct prevents the possibility of transporting Vaca Muerta gas and regasified LNG from Escobar to the northern region of the country, affecting not only the supply of gas but also that of electrical energy. “This affects not only the supply of gas, but also that of electrical energy, since it leaves the important thermal plants in that region without fuel”said Martínez.
Finally, Martínez criticized Milei’s government for “reacting late to the problem.” He mentioned that when the situation became unsustainable, the idea of privatizing public works was abandoned and an attempt was made to reactivate the suspended works, but it was too late. “Today Milei will pay Bolivia up to US$ 21 MMbtu for 4 million m3 per day in the winter, when the reversal works would have allowed 5 million m3 per day of Vaca Muerta gas to be brought in at US$ 4”he concluded.
