Argentina will give Bolivia a plane if it sells more gas in winter

By
the largest local gas production, in summer the country has a surplus supply. However, for
A historic contract with Bolivia, the country still has to import hydrocarbons, even if it does not need them. Today, the government announced that a renegotiation had been concluded, which would save the state 460 million US dollars, according to the Ministry of Finance.

But the curious thing about the renegotiation is that the energy secretary,

Gustavo Lopetegui

, he offered his Bolivian counterpart a Pampa 3 plane made in the
Brigadier San Martín (Fadea), maker of Argentine aircraft, before a bigger sale of gas in winter.

"Argentina will deliver the Pampa 3 aircraft to Bolivia if the gas supply is exceeded by 45 million cubic meters (m3) during the five months of the winter period of high demand (May). to September), "he said. communicated to the Ministry of Finance, on which the Energy portfolio depends.

The agreement was signed today by the companies Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) and the state company Integración Energética Argentina (Ieasa) -ex Enarsa-, in the presence of Lopetegui, and the Minister Hydrocarbons of Bolivia, Luis Alberto Sánchez YPFB cadre, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

The agreement came into effect with the signing of the fourth rider to the original contract between Ieasa and YPFB, which dates from October 2006 and is valid until 2026.

"Argentina has signed a rider to the gas supply agreement with Bolivia until 2026, which establishes a different price and contract quantity schedule, with an increased seasonality of deliveries for the period 2019-2020.Thus, the country will save $ 460 million in two years, "the statement said.

The gas supply contract between the two countries will represent this year an amount of about 1,200 million US dollars. The contractual additive will allow Argentina to receive less gas during the months of reduced consumption, in the summer, and thus avoid the payment of penalties.

More specifically, a new definition of the months corresponding to winter has been established, distinguishing the months of "peak" and "rest". The months of "peak" will be those of the winter: June, July and August, to meet the increased demand of our country; while in May and September, they will be considered in the category "rest".

In the new price and quantity scheme, it has been established that during the summer months (January to April and October to December), YPBF would provide 11 million cubic meters of gas per day. In May and September, the volume will reach 16 million m3 per day, and during the peak winter months between June and August, the volume will reach 18 million m3 per day.

"In recent years, Argentina has had the chance to discover and develop important natural gas resources and reserves, particularly through the training of Vaca Muerta, which have allowed local production to increase very significantly.Gas exports in summer, but still require imports in winter, "said Lopetegui.

"This change of context has led to the need to renegotiate, in principle, for a period of two years, the contract for the purchase and sale of gas between YPFB and Ieasa, in order to find a satisfactory solution for both parties. we have contractual quantities to meet Argentina's needs during the summer and we have established differential prices based on market signals, especially in winter, "he added.