Due to the lower supply of gas available in the system, distributors had to cut off the interruptible supply to industries. Camuzzi Gas Pampeana cut service to 130 CNG stations. Due to the strike by the shipping unions, LNG logistics were complicated just in the face of the cold wave. By Econojournal
The main distribution companies in the country – Camuzzi, Naturgy and Metrogas – began at the weekend to cut the supply of gas to industrial clients that contract the fluid under the interruptible modality . In the region concessioned to Camuzzi Gas Pampeana, it was also necessary to cut the supply to some 130 CNG stations due to a lack of gas in the system. Industries with firm transportation were ordered to cut off all gas that is not contracted in that condition. A distributor explored the possibility of convening an emergency committee with Enargas and the Ministry of Energy, although that option finally did not materialize. It is the first time in at least three years that it is necessary to cut the supply of CNG. This was confirmed to EconoJournal by private and government sources.
“ Of 260 CNG service stations (in the Camuzzi Gas Pampeana region), half were cut off with zero consumption . The other half can sell up to the firm hired. Then, they have to restrict the commercialization ”, explained a technician of the system that follows closely the context. Metrogas, Naturgy and Litoral Gas were also forced to restrict the supply of gas to interruptible contracts with industries.
Several marketers, for their part, ordered their clients to take only 70% of the gas contracted due to the weakness of the supply of the fluid.
Multi-causal
Although it is not yet critical as in 2010 or 2012, the health of the gas system is much more complex than what government technicians had projected three months ago. In addition to the lower gas production in the system as a result of the conflict with health autoconvocados that paralyzed the drilling of new gas wells during almost all of April in Neuquén, this week was added the blows of the surprise strike by shipping unions , which complicated logistics of LNG tankers at the Escobar regasification terminal and the discharge of liquid fuels at power plants.
“ The regasification vessel Exemplar , which had to inject 17 MMm3 of gas before continuing to Bahía Blanca, could only regasify 9 million due to the union conflict with shipping companies. And the LNG tanker that was due to enter the weekend was delayed by the bad anticyclonic weather of the weekend. It will only start to unload tomorrow (Tuesday) first thing in the morning ”, explained the manager of an oil company.
The outlook for June is not the best. The regasification ship of Bahía Blanca must enter on Wednesday, May 26, but for that day the shipping unions called for a new stoppage of activities for 48 hours in all the country’s ports to demand 6000 vaccines. They believe that shipping and shipping should be considered essential, just as the government did with international freight truckers. For this reason, some believe that the Exemplar de Excelerate will finally end up mooring at the MEGA dock only on May 30.