Demand for liquefied natural gas from Chile's power industry rose sharply in February as hydroelectric generation dwindled after the dry summer season, energy ministry data showed Tuesday.
Gas-fired power plants in Chile produced 1,011.6 GWh of electricity in February, up 26.8% from 333.57 GWh in January, the data showed.
On central Chile's SIC grid, gas plants produced just 789.8 GWh, up 15.5% from 684 GWh in January and representing 18% of electricity generated on the system, up from 15% in January.
Hydroelectric generation fell 21.8% to 1,711.32 GWh, or 39% of total generation, compared to 48% in January.
In arid northern Chile, gas-fired plants generated 221.76 GWh, up 95.3% from January, to compensate for a 10% drop in coal-fired generation.
The composition of Chile's electricity supplies normally varies through the year, with hydropower gaining market share after the reservoirs are replenished through the winter. Last May, hydropower produced 32% of the electricity on the SIC, compared to 29% from gas and 26% from coal. Chile imports approximately 99% of the gas it consumes as LNG, mostly from Trinidad and Tobago and Equatorial Guinea.
