Reality. While thousands of citizens pay a high price for a soccer ball, LPG, the project to massify the distribution of natural gas through home networks, sleeps in the Congress.
Since June 2021, the price of a bottle of domestic gas or bottled LPG has been constantly increasing. On some occasions, an additional 20 soles was paid in homes.
According to data recorded by the Supervisory Agency for Investment in Energy and Mining (Osinergmin), by June 2021, the price fluctuated at S/ 38 and climbed until reaching peaks of S/ 60 in January of this year 2023. Now it began to decrease.
The reasons for this rise were diverse. In 2021, the Peruvian Society of Liquefied Gas explained that the increase had to do directly with the price of LPG internationally as well as oil. At the end of 2021, the Central Reserve Bank of Peru reported that the domestic gas balloon had risen 39.2% in the 12 months of 2021.
In 2022, the scenario was repeated and in December shortages began to be reported as a result of the protests against the government of Dina Boluarte, which involved roadblocks. This caused shortages and, according to energy analyst Antonio Gamero, there was a lot of speculation in price management.
Natural gas
In Arequipa, there is a small number of citizens who enjoy the natural gas extracted from the Camisea wells and do not have to go buy the gas cylinder.
There are 9,183 homes with facilities enabled through pipelines that transport gas, after passing through the regasification plants. Users pay a fee of S/50, of that amount S/ 18.00 corresponds to the meter fee, 12 to 18 soles for the transfer and the rest for consumption. This means that when they finish paying the amount for the meter, the final rate will decrease considerably.
The concession of this service was in the hands of the Spanish company Naturgy, but he left the service arguing non-compliance by the Peruvian government. PetroPerú assumed the concession.
massification project
Natural gas is distributed from pisco, where the gas pipeline from the Camisea jungle (Cusco) arrives. The possibility of the massification of this cheap gas in the southern regions is in the hands of the Congress of the Republic.
Renato Lazo, lawyer specializing in hydrocarbons, explained that the Energy and Mines Commission approved on January 11 the bill No. 679 that establishes the overcrowding, however, not all legislators have signed the opinion, so that it goes to the plenary session.
This project has been in Congress for more than a year, it was approved for the first time in July 2022, they observed it because it excluded several regions such as Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna.
Lazo explained that the new ruling includes all cities, even those with a private concession. This will allow them to receive the resources of the Energy Social Inclusion Fund (FISE) and others that the State sees fit for the construction of natural gas networks.
According to specialist Antonio Gamero, in the Arequipa region there are 5,541 unauthorized connections left by the Spanish company Naturgy. They still do not receive natural gas. There are another 28,000 pending construction that could be completed if the project approves these connections.
In addition, an additional point is raised: that the rates cost the same as in Lima and in the rest of the country. Antonio Gamero explained that the benefit is called Bonogas and is currently applied in Lima, Callao and Ica. For Lazo, that the project continues to be detained in Congress means continuing to postpone the massification and development of the south.
GRA must take action on project
The specialist Antonio Gamero sent a letter to the Regional Governor of Arequipa, Rohel Sánchez, to participate in the approval of project No. 679, in order to achieve greater benefits for the region.
He explained that the Ministry of energy It has not given clear information regarding the goals of home connections and the budget that will be allocated to Arequipa for this issue.
On the other hand, he questioned that the southern region continues to be neglected on this issue, while in the north a million-dollar budget has been invested for the Talara refinery and, on the other hand, they want to promote the Seven Regions project without considering Arequipa.
Source: Larepublica
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