Chile could resume exports of natural gas to its neighbor Argentina next year, the countries' energy ministers said Thursday.
Argentina's state energy firm ENARSA is currently studying a proposal from Chile's ENAP to pump 3 million cu m/d of gas across the Andes between mid-May and the end of August, which is the Southern hemisphere winter, on "very similar terms" to those for gas exports this winter.
"It will depend whether we can come to an agreement on the prices and what the conditions should be," said Argentina's Energy and Mines Minister Juan Jose Aranguren, following a meeting with Chilean counterpart Andres Rebolledo in Buenos Aires.
"We see no inconvenience of repeating the process in 2017 as long as it benefits the buyer as much as the seller," Aranguren added.
Chile exported a total of 360 million cu m of natural gas to Argentina between May and August this year. This included 86 million cu m through the northern NorAndino gas pipeline, imported as LNG through the Engie-controlled Mejillones terminal, and another 374 million cu m via the GasAndes, imported as LNG through the Enagas-controlled Quintero terminal in central Chile.
The exports reverse the traditional relationship between the two countries. Until 2004, Argentina pumped up to 20 million cu m/d natural gas to Chile along the same pipelines until domestic shortages forced authorities in Buenos Aires to restrict exports, leaving its neighbor facing a major energy crisis.
The additional gas allows Argentina to reduce consumption of more expensive imported fossil fuels, such as diesel and fuel oil.
The ministers discussed the opportunity of increasing exports of electricity from Chile to Argentina through the development of at least five interconnections between the power grids in the two countries.
"We have to resolve and maximize the opportunities for exchange because this will result in sharing the benefits that we can receive on each side of the Andes," said Aranguren.
Chile exported electricity during 51 days this year over a line between northern Chile and northwest Argentina.
Rebolledo said that the two governments are studying the opportunity to build a second interconnection linked to a new road tunnel between Chile's Coquimbo Region and the neighboring province of San Juan.
Argentina imported electricity from Brazil, Chile and Uruguay this year. Electricity demand doubles during the Argentinean summer as families switch on the air conditioning.
