Uribe, Torrijos emphasize gas plans

The proposed gas interconnection between Colombia and Panama would "help enormously" the two countries, Colombia's President Álvaro Uribe said over the weekend at a meeting with his Panamanian counterpart Martín Torrijos. Plans are for a 200km line running from Colombia's existing network to Colón in Panama, transporting approximately 200 million cubic feet a day of gas. However, that line is a long-term project that would be the second phase of a project that in its first stage would take Colombian gas to Venezuela for a period of seven years before anticipated gas production increases in Venezuela would be sufficient to justify reversing the flow to Colombia and on to Central America. "I wish that it could be possible to start some shipments [from Colombia to Panama] this year by barge, so that public opinion starts seeing the benefit of this integration," Uribe said. ELECTRICITY INTERCONNECTION Panama and Colombia also plan an electric power interconnection. The proposed line would link the Cerromatoso substation in Colombia's Córdoba department to the Panamá II substation over the border and would transport up to 300MW from Colombia to Panama and 200MW in the opposite direction. Local press in Panama has reported the CEO of Panama's state transmission company Etesa, Juan Urriola, as saying that the proposed 600km, US$170mn electricity interconnection would run onshore along the Caribbean coastline. Several routes were considered, and despite the Caribbean option being the most expensive, it is the most feasible after accounting for environmental, political and social factors. BIO-FUELS Also discussed in Sunday's meeting was the sharing of Colombia's experiences in the production of alternative fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, with Panama so that both countries' can reduce their dependence on oil and diversify their energy matrix. This year, Colombia will produce 1 million liters of ethanol for a 10% ethanol mixture in gasoline that will take effect as of September 25. Colombia's congress has also passed a bill that promotes the production, consumption and commercialization of biofuels. Uribe and Torrijos signed an agreement on March 13 that reiterates both governments' commitment to continue strengthening bilateral relationships.