Given the emergency that exists in the Coffee Axis, Cauca and Valle del Cauca, the president of Naturgas, Luz Stella Murgascalled on the National Government to take substantive measures in order to avoid emergencies of this type in the future.
Although a possible solution could be the Pacific Regasification Plant that is intended to be built in this area of the country, in the shorter term there are also regulatory measures that could be implemented.
(Also read: Irene Vélez talked about how many days the gas shortage will last: this is how the work goes)
with a bidirectionality of the infrastructure could facilitate the transport of gas to the south west of the country so that gas can be brought from where there is an oversupply to cover specific needs. Currently, the TGI pipeline only moves gas in one way: from the interior of the country to the south.
Luz Stella Murgas, president of Naturgas
This is equivalent to having a single rate and those who are close to and those who are far from the production fields would pay the same
Another proposal made by the president of Naturgas is change the methodology of the transport rate. This would imply not having a tariff that adds up all the individual tariffs of the gas pipeline sections, since this can increase the cost of transportation to areas far from the production fields, as in the case of the southwest of the country.
“We have proposed the Energy and Gas Regulation Commission (Creg) to change that methodology to a stamp system, that is equivalent to having a single rate and those who are close to and those who are far from the production fields would pay the same. That would allow gas to reach the southwest at a comfortable price,” he explained.
This initiative will have an impact on the rates that users currently pay, because it is positive areas in Valle del Cauca pay higher prices because they have to assume the rates of all the sections that were built from the production field (Cusiana, in Casanare) to this department.
(Also read: Areas of 15 municipalities in northern Cauca suffer without natural gas)
Uncertainty and concern about vehicle gas. Drivers, in stations in Cali.
Santiago Saldarriaga. TIME
In addition to regulatory issues, Luz Stella Murgas stated that environmental conditions become fundamental, since relations with communities have been difficult and on multiple occasions delay construction of key projectsas is the case of the Collector power transmission line.
We cannot remain stagnant, we have to be able to establish a methodology
“The environmental conditions become fundamental and as a country we have to be able to establish an action plan that allows us to have a case of success in negotiations with the communities that are beneficiaries of these projects and in the areas of influence”, he added.
He also questioned that to date it has not been possible to have a new regulation of prior consultation because the bill itself requires a prior consultation process.
“We cannot remain stagnant, we have to be able to establish a methodology that becomes a practice and is replicated in the execution of other projects in which we can have a fluid conversation between the communities and the Government, with clarity about the stages of the process and that the remuneration is defined associated with the benefits that the community will receive,” said the union leader.
(Also read: 70% of taxis ‘stranded’: Risaralda suffer the effects of the suspension of natural gas)
Solutions for the supply of natural gas
The emergency was declared on May 20 as a result of a thermal anomaly that prevents the supply of natural gas to natural gas users in the departments of Tolima, Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío, Nariño, Cauca and Valle del Cauca.
Colombia has natural gas, in Colombia there is natural gas to satisfy 100 percent of the demand
The president of Naturgas assured that it is very important to determine the cause of this emergency because that will allow, in the shortest possible time, to establish alternatives and reactivate the operation of the gas pipeline.
For now, the temporary solution is the installation of two flexible pipe lines that makes a bypass to the transportation system in the warming zone in order to transport natural gas to meet and restore 100 percent of the demand in the southwestern part of the country.
To mitigate the effects on homes and commerce, the decision was made to suspend the supply to industries and service stations of Vehicular Natural Gas (GNV) and with the natural gas that was packaged in the tube the supply was being attended, but these resources are already exhausted.
“We hope that the works, which begin on Monday, will be carried out within nine days or in the shortest time possible, if environmental conditions allow it“, he added.
(Also read: Indefinite, for now, suspension of gas in Valle and northern Cauca)
Juan Pablo Rueda. TIME
While this is happening, natural gas is being compressed at La Dorada to be transported to the departments of Cauca and Narino and to some municipalities of Valle del Cauca.
In addition, substitutes for natural gas are being sought on a temporary basis, that is, use liquid fuels for industries, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for residential and commercial areas.
“Colombia has natural gas, in Colombia there is natural gas to satisfy 100 percent of the demand. What happened in Cerro Bravo is a situation far removed from the industry which, as a preventive measure, led us to suspend the supply to protect the physical integrity of people, the gas pipeline and the road infrastructure that is adjacent to the route,” said Luz Stella Murgas.
