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Bogotá-based Transportadora de Gas Internacional (TGI) remains hopeful that a tender process for Colombias second LNG terminal will be launched this year amid government efforts to ratchet up natural gas supply.
The subsidiary of Grupo Energía de Bogotá (GEB) "continues to evaluate" a possible bid to build and operate the regasification plant in the Pacific port city of Buenaventura and an associated pipeline, executives said in a quarterly earnings call.
"Were waiting for the publication of the definitive terms of reference," TGIs chief financial officer Julio Hernando Alarcón said.
"According to the [governments] estimated program, the publication of these terms is scheduled for the end of 2019."
Budgeted at US$400mn, the regasification terminal is slated to process up to 400Mf3/d (11Mm3/d) and store 170,000m3 of natural gas. Colombias first LNG import facility, in Cartagena, went into service in 2016.
The 75km pipeline – expected to cost US$260mn – would connect the terminal to Yumbo on the northern outskirts of Cali, Colombias third largest city.
Mines and energy ministry planning unit UPME has said it expects to receive offers and award the contracts by mid-2020. The regasification plant is slated to begin operating in 2023 and the gas duct in 2025.
Earlier this year, TGI said it secured an agreement with an international partner for a 50:50 joint venture to carry out the project. Executives did not reveal the name of the partner, but local media previously reported that Spains Enagás had shown interest in forming a consortium.
The TGI bid faces competition from Barranquilla-based transporter Promigas, which is awaiting pricing details before deciding whether to participate, according to CFO Aquiles Mercado.
The Pacific LNG project is considered key to the governments plans to increase natural gas supply amid a dearth of local discoveries and rising demand from thermoelectric plants.
The need for gas-fired electricity generation has been heightened by construction problems at the Hidroituango dam, Colombias largest infrastructure project. Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) has said the 2.4GW hydro project, which had been expected to start operating last December, will be delayed until at least 2021 in a best-case scenario.
According to energy ministry planning unit UPME, Colombia faces a natural gas supply deficit by February 2022 in "an average demand scenario."
OTHER PROJECTS, CÁLIDDA
TGI said it has four other projects under review: the Mariquita-Gualanday loop, the Yumbo-Mariquita bidirectional system, the Jamundí-Aguas Abajo pipeline branch and the Ballena-Barrancabermeja bidirectional system.
The companys US$92mn Cusiana Fase IV expansion project is 70.6% complete and a US$11.6mn upgrade of five existing lines is 60% complete, executives said.
Meanwhile, GEBs Peruvian unit Cálidda said it would invest US$600mn by 2026 to expand its pipeline distribution network in Lima and Callao.
“Were working... to provide coverage of 100% of Lima and Callao, with which we estimate to reach at least 2mn users,” Cáliddas director general Martín Mejía said in call with analysts. |
