Petrobras may boost LNG imports 50pc amid pipeline work
Petrobras may increase Brazilian LNG imports by 50pc to compensate for an expected drop in domestic natural gas flows when the Rota 1 pipeline shuts down for maintenance in August.
Energy regulator ANP approved increasing LNG imports to 30mn m³/d from 20mn m³/d, ANP director Rodolfo Saboia said today at an event at the Brazilian lower house.
Work on the offshore pipeline will begin 15 August, reducing the flow of gas from the offshore Mexilhao platform that may cut gas-fired power capacity by around 3GW.
With 65pc of Brazil's power generation provided by hydroelectric plants, Brazil is facing the risk of power demand outstripping supply during peak hours in the second half of the year as hydroelectric reservoirs drop to critically low levels because of a drought.
The LNG will be processed in the Baia da Guanabara terminal in Rio de Janeiro. Pecem's foating regasification terminal will also be relocated from Pernambuco state to Bahia state to help increase LNG processing capacity by 14mn m³/d.
Petrobras also asked antitrust agency CADE to increase the import of piped natural gas from Bolivia, adding 10mn m³/d from the Gasbol pipeline.
Related news posts
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more