Peru advances regulatory tweak of natural gas market

Peru’s energy and mines ministry has published a regulation as part of the government’s push to help guarantee efficient gas use and improve market competitiveness.

The norm establishes the procedure for the transfer of information in the primary and secondary gas markets.

Consultation began last year following the publication of a regulation to optimize gas use and create a market coordinator.

The ministry’s hydrocarbons department will have up to 220 working days to implement a technological platform for the information transfer, according to the latest regulation.

SUPPLY SHORTFALL

In a related development, the ministry authorized national oil company Petroperú and Gases del Pacifico, which distribute gas in the north and south of the country, respectively, to acquire minimum LNG stocks from their supplier Shell GNL Perú.

The distributors submitted requests to tap the inventory to maintain service after Shell reported a production impasse at Peru LNG. The latter due to a dispatch disruption because of the occupation of gas transporter TGP’s Kámani compression plant by protestors amid conflict over the ousting of former president Pedro Castillo.

To mitigate the impact on supply, the ministry activated a rationing mechanism to guarantee supply.