YPFB will make available for operations up to 4 million cubic meters per day of transportation capacity for Argentine gas destined for Brazil.
Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) is developing a new line of business in the international gas market in the region following the approval and publication of Supreme Decree 5206, which regulates the transportation of hydrocarbons through Bolivian pipelines.
YPFB's Natural Gas Export Contracts Manager, Óscar Claros Dulón, explained that YPFB Transporte, YPFB Transierra, YPFB Andina (JV Río Grande) and GasTransboliviano make up the Integrated Gas in Transit Transportation System.
The gas produced in Argentina will flow through this system to the Brazilian market, under the direction and programming of the aggregation and transportation operations by YPFB.
“In addition to the export flow of gas produced in Bolivia to Sao Paulo, YPFB will add a new line of business: the aggregation and transportation of gas from Argentina to Brazil through the gas pipeline system via the subsidiary and affiliated transportation companies of the state-owned gas and oil company,” Claros explained.
Among the strategic assets of Bolivia and YPFB is the gas pipeline transportation system installed in Bolivia, through which the country currently exports gas to Brazil and Argentina.
“Guaranteeing full transportation capacity for gas produced in Bolivia, YPFB will make available for gas in transit operations up to 4 million cubic meters/day of transportation capacity for Argentine gas destined for Brazil, a capacity compatible with the maximum volume of exports by pipeline that Argentina currently has,” he added.
In recent months, YPFB has worked hard on the development of this momentous project, which will be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2024 thanks to the commitment and support of institutions involved in these operations, such as the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy, the Vice Ministry of Tax Policy, the National Hydrocarbons Agency and the National Customs.
With gas in transit operations from Yacuiba to Mutún or San Matías, depending on the conditions of the commercial contracts between sellers and buyers, the Bolivian pipeline system will collect resources from transportation rates and the price of the aggregation service.
The state-owned company reported that it has the material, commercial and administrative conditions to develop and expand the new business line of aggregation and transportation of gas in transit through Bolivia, an activity to which in the short term will be added the operations of purchase and sale of natural gas in the international market of the region.
Supreme Decree 5206, of August 28, 2024, aims to facilitate international trade agreements at the regional level in the area of energy, as well as to consolidate the optimal management of the State's gas transportation system through pipelines. In addition, it lays the foundations for the development of a regional commercial and gas transportation strategy by YPFB, for the benefit of the country.
Bolivia has more than 1,000 km of gas pipelines that cross Bolivian territory to transport Argentine gas to the Brazilian market.
