Cusco next in line for natural gas expansion

Peru’s energy and mines ministry has approved the creation of a committee to conduct bidding to expand natural gas use in Cusco department.

The planned work falls under the framework of a special infrastructure projects program for the massification of gas in the interior of the country financed by social energy inclusion fund FISE.

The committee will be comprised of FISE officials and a representative of the ministry’s natural gas management office.

In September, energy and mines minister Oscar Vera Gargurevich met with Cusco governor Werner Salcedo Álvarez to ratify the central government’s pledge to expand gas infrastructure in the department.

A gas distribution concession does not exist in Cusco and previous attempts to offer a concession for the service fell through due to questionable financial and technical feasibility, which led to a government push to promote gas use through region-specific initiatives.

Cusco authorities, residents and other stakeholders have stepped up calls to boost gas use, highlighting that Cusco is home to the country’s flagship gas development, Camisea.

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