Ecuador's Austrogas looks to climb sales ranking

Ecuadoran LPG supplier Austrogas plans to increase market share and improve its number five ranking among companies that sell the gas in the country.

Austrogas, controlled by state oil company Petroecuador, accounted for 4.6% of LPG sales in 2016 that totaled almost 1.1Bkg, according to hydrocarbons regulator ARCH.

Top-ranked Duragas and second place Eni Ecuador had 37% and 32% shares, respectively.

To help draft expansion and project strategies, Austrogas awarded Altior a 120-day contract to prepare a 2017-20 business plan.

The consultancy work will span a radius of 100-150km from the company's storage and filling plants in Cuenca and Ventanas, in the respective provinces Azuay and Los Ríos. The Cuenca facility dispatched 70% of Austrogas LPG last year.

Austrogas' client base also extends to provinces Cañar, Morona, Santiago, Galápagos, Guayas and Bolívar.

Of last year's sales, cylinders accounted for 82% of the company's deliveries and bulk supply the balance.

ARCH highlights sustained residential LPG demand growth despite a government program to replace LPG-fired stoves and water heaters with electricity.