After 13 years, Argentina will export gas to Chile

The Argentine government has authorized oil companies Wednesday, after at least 13 years, resume their gas exports to Chile from next September, with uninterruptible contracts, for a volume of up to 10 million cubic meters per day (MMm3 / d), Presidents Mauricio Macri and Sebastián Piñera signed in July.

The announcement was made through provision 167 of the Ministry of Energy, which will allow continuity of exports initiated in October of last year and which, during the first half of this year , reached an average of 5.9 MMm3 / d, increasing shipments from Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.

The new modality of exporting natural gas to Chile through firm contracts – that is, without interruption of supply – was one of the agreed points in the joint declaration that the presidents of both countries had made. signed in mid-July.

Thus, the government authorizes exports of firm gas to Chile for the period from September 15, 2019 to May 15, 2020, with a maximum volume of 10 million m3 / d.

The government pointed out that with the increase in natural gas production at Vaca Muerta, "it is warned that the country will count for the next summer a surplus production that can be exported in good conditions."

In April 2018, Chile and Argentina signed a gas trade liberalization agreement, which "allowed the resumption of exports in September according to the interruptible modality after the sudden suspension of shipments in 2007. of production, exports have increased steadily, "according to official information.

Since September, 10 Chilean companies have signed more than 30 gas purchase transactions in Argentina, accounting for about 39% of neighboring Chile's gas imports.

To ratify the decision to increase shipments, the government will hold a public-private meeting in Vaca Muerta on Friday with the participation of companies and officials from the energy sector in Argentina and Chile.

Officials will visit the YPF site, Loma Campana, and a space will be reserved for exhibits, questions and answers, a meeting to be held in the middle of the bid that corporations, provincial governments and the nation will keep around the price freeze Crude oil fuels arranged as part of a set of economic measures.

The governor of Neuquén, Omar Gutiérrez; the Secretary of Energy, Gustavo Lopetegui, and his Chilean counterpart, Juan Carlos Jobet; besides the ambbadadors Octavio Bordón and Sergio Urrejola.

Among Argentine companies, leaders of YPF, Chevron, CGC, ENAP, PAE, Pampa, Pluspetrol, Shell, Tecpetrol, TGN, TGS, Total and Winthersall DEA will be present.

Agesa, AGN, ENAP, Engie, Gasandes, Argentina Pacific Pipeline, GasSur, GasValpo, Metropolitan Generator, LNG Quintero, Methanex, Metrogas, Innergy, ENEL Generación Chile, AME, GNL Chile and Gasco Magallanes will participate in the Chilean private sector.

Local companies interested in exporting can submit applications for authorization until 6 September.

The export zones planned for export under firm conditions during this period will be the Northwest, with a quota of 1 MM m3 / d via the Norandino and Atacama pipelines; West Central with 6.5 million m3 / d of GasAndes and Pacific and South with 2.5 million m3 / d of Methanex.