Peruvian fields to supply new southern Andean pipeline
Peruvian Energy and Mines Minister Pedro Sanchez denied claims that the country doesn't have sufficient natural gas
reserves to supply a new pipeline in the southern Andes.
Following a meeting with regional government leaders from four southern Andean states, who had earlier expressed
worry that Peru lacks natural gas supply for the South Andean pipeline, Sanchez said there are sufficient reserves in
the Camisea fields to fuel the project. He added that explorations are also under way for additional gas reserves
near the Camisea fields.
According to Argentine oil company Pluspetrol, head of the consortium that runs the Camisea fields, reserves in the
project's blocks, 88 and 56, in Peru's southern jungle, total 8.8 tcf. The company, however, projects total reserves
of 14.1 tcf.
Kuntur, a subsidiary of private-equity company Conduit Capital Partners, signed a contract with the government last
year for the construction of the $ 1.35 bn 675-mile pipeline that will run from Peru's Camisea gas fields to the
southern highland departments of Puno, Arequipa and Moquegua.
Sanchez said he expects the company to present its environmental-impact study in January and that operations should
begin in 2012.
Gas and liquids are currently shipped from the jungle region to a plant near Pisco on the Pacific coast and then on
to the capital of Lima and elsewhere.
