In suspense 40% of the crude oil in the sector after the closure of Relapasa

In 2021, the average consumption of liquid fuels from Peru was just over 214,000 barrels per day (BPD), twenty times the volume spilled in La Pampilla in just 24 hours. At the forefront, national production last year barely exceeded 38,000 BPD, that is, local demand had to be satisfied with more than 176,000 barrels imported daily, paying international prices.

From this, in the opinion of the experts consulted, it is inexplicable how the Ministry of the Environment (Minam) resolved the closure of the terminal without a prior economic impact assessment, with its counterpart from the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem).

In its operations, The Pampilla it receives crude oil and dispatches a small part of what it produces, since everything stays in Lima. From there it is distributed to the north and small south by cisterns. But 100% of the crude it loads comes from imports, so they will only have to refine until stocks (reserves) are exhausted.

Gustavo Navarro, former director of the General Directorate of Hydrocarbons, states that the fuel supply system in Peru is designed to have four important supply points: La Pampilla (with the largest volume), Talara, Callao Plant and Conchán. The Talara refinery has been stopped for two years, but it maintains important tanks that Petroperú continues to use to receive imports, which are taken from there by coastal ships that are heated by the coastal ports.

Callao Plant also receives imports and can be shipped for caleteo, while Conchán, with a small refinery, has an important tank farm. This data is key because the only ports that receive direct fuel imports are Mollendo, in the south, and Puerto Eten, where only diesel is received. The rest depends on cabotage.

“If La Pampilla leaves, the Conchán and Callao tanks will have to be used to the maximum, with minority support from Talara. But in the first, traffic is high, so the situation could worsen with ships full of gasoline and diesel queuing at sea to unload,” he says.

fuel hike

Given this scenario, the expert maintains that it is difficult for a real shortage to occur in the short term, but there could be an increase in the price of crude derivatives due to this new logistics, which would require reorganizing the import, storage and dispatch system. It should be remembered that there is no tube that crosses the entire coast carrying this resource.

“I understand the decision to close La Pampilla, which not long ago passed the exam of the insurance companies, because the magnitude of the disaster could justify it. However, I hope that there will be the same speed and rigor for an efficient review of the operations of Repsolso that it does not harm the population,” said Navarro.

latent subsidiarity

Other specialists in the sector warn that, in the face of a potential fuel shortage, the political handling of the problem could lead to the State assuming cost overruns through subsidies, with which it would be operating at a loss in order not to generate discomfort due to its lack of coordination. between ministries.

Possible tensions in the provinces

In response to this medium, Repsol indicated that the La Pampilla refinery (Relapasa) has an inventory that meets the requirements of Peruvian law regarding product inventories.

“By not having the possibility of supplying crude oil and dispatching finished products to the terminals in the province, Tensions could be generated in the market within the country, in the supply of fuel for aviation and for naval transport”, recognized Repsol.

Today Lima concentrates a third of the total consumption of derivatives of the Petroleum in Peru.

Data

Market. La Pampilla supplies 40% of the local market. Petroperú has the other 40%, while other importers have the remaining 20%.

No opinion. At the close of this note, the Minem’s technical opinion was not known despite being a matter of its strict competence.