RCR, August 19, 2024.- The Minister of Energy and Mines, Rómulo Mucho Mamani, stressed that an agreement is being reached with several companies to expand the exploitation of natural gas. He also said that he has been commissioned by the government to promote private investment in a petrochemical plant that produces fertilizers.
“We are reaching an agreement for the companies to drill in the same existing lots and it has been assured that 1.5 trillion more cubic feet can be achieved. The other good news is that we have already started the procedures and agreements to value Candamo, which is a new discovery. At this moment we are talking about almost 2 trillion, but with just one drill,” he said through the Regional Communication Network (RCR).
He said that the new fields could produce gas like Camisea. “This time we would have to plan well how to use this resource because we should have had petrochemicals in 2007. There was a lot of progress and in 2010 it was going to be a reality with the CFI company from the United States, a specialist in urea and fertilizers, but as always, we Peruvians are very complicated and the permits, the price of the molecule and CFI did not come to an agreement and that was it,” he said.
“I am trying again to see if there is any interest, because certain incentives must also be given. I have a request from the president to remove the petrochemical industry. We have formed a team to be able to move forward. Pluspetrol has already called for those who are interested in natural gas, which is the key, and many places in Peru are also demanding where the plant is, but we have to see the feasibility at this time of where the gas is,” he said.
He reported that there are five world-class companies that have expressed interest in investing in gas reserves for the development of the petrochemical industry. “It is needed for one million tons of urea. It can also be ammonium nitrate, because both provide nitrogen, urea 44% nitrogen, ammonium nitrate 34% nitrogen, because nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus are the key trio of fertilization and then there are other minerals from the periodic list such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc that are nutrients for productivity in agriculture,” he said.
He stressed that southern Peru is an energy hub. “Arequipa is an energy hub from the point of view that there are many solar energy projects, Ica for wind energy. We are also making progress in that regard and we have almost more than 20 projects that they want to carry out in Peru. At the moment we are building four projects, and we will soon inaugurate the largest solar power plant in Peru in Moquegua. We will soon inaugurate the San Gabán 3 hydroelectric plant in Puno, which is also renewable energy,” he said.
He said that these projects go hand in hand with the Integrated Natural Gas Transport System project. “More widespread use of gas and gas for public transport, for conversion as well. We have made a lot of progress, I have numbers, but that should advance much further along the lines of providing incentives. Fortunately, we have the Fise fund to be able to move forward not only for domestic use, but also for hospitals, soup kitchens and rural electrification,” he stressed.
