The sectors driving Colombia's natural gas demand growth

Colombian natural gas demand edged higher in September as rising activity at local refineries offset falling consumption by industries and thermoelectric generators. 

Demand for gas delivered via the SNT national pipeline network reached 952BBBTU/d (billion British thermal units a day) compared to 946BBBTU/d in August, according to a report published by market operator BMC. The figure represents a 7% year-on-year increase. 

Refinery consumption hit 160BBBTU/d, up from 151BBBTU/d in August, while households used 181BBBTU/d compared to 180BBBTU/d a month earlier. 

Gas demand among industries, meanwhile, dipped to 277BBBTU/d from 279BBBTU/d while thermoelectric generators required 187BBBTU/d, down from 189BBBTU/d. 

Other major consumers included the retail sector (59BBBTU/d), natural gas vehicles (56BBBTU/d) and the petrochemical segment. 

Meanwhile, the volume of natural gas supplied to the domestic market inched up 1% compared to August to 1,104BBBTU/d. The figure included 969BBBTU/d injected into the national pipeline network and 133BBBTU/d dispatched via other modes of transport. 

Most of the volumes delivered via pipeline came from the Cusiana/Cupiagua Sur (298BBBTU/d), Cupiagua (239BBBTU/d) and Guajira (124BBBTU/d) production fields. Imports via the Cartagena regasification terminal totaled 2BBBTU/d. 

PRICES

Gas prices on the primary market were highest for thermoelectric generators (US$6.38/MMBTU, million British thermal units), with refineries next (US$5.35/MMBTU) followed by households (US$5.33/MMBTU), retailers (US$4.84/MMBTU), industries (US$4.21/MMBTU), natural gas vehicles (US$3.95/MMBTU) and petrochemical producers (US$2.58/MMBTU). 

There were 568 operations on the secondary market, of which 520 were single-day contracts. The median price for secondary market agreements was US$7.71/MMBTU while those with a duration of one day had an average value of US$6.76/MMBTU. 

Meanwhile, there were 379 transport contracts signed in September, of which 376 were for one day. Transport volumes negotiated during the month averaged 5.03Mf3/d (million cubic feet per day) while the average price was US$0.19/MMBTU.

More information, in Spanish, can be seen here.