At the beginning of September, a new edition of the series of Digital Dialogs took place within the framework of the Latin America Gas Conference, co-organized by ARPEL, IGU, and EnergyNet, with the support of OLADE.

This time, a closed workshop was held on “The LNG Outlook in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

The panel members were Jorge Rivera Staff, Secretary of Energy of Panama; Heloisa Borges, Head of Gas of EPE Brazil; José María Castro, General Manager of SPEC LNG; Gabriela Aguilar, General Manager for Argentina and VP South America of Excelerate; Verónica Tito, Legal Advisor of the Under-Secretariat of Hydrocarbons of the Secretariat of Energy of Argentina, and Lucía Mora Ruiloba, LNG Analyst and Communications Officer of International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL). The event was moderated by Kenna Bravo, from GNL Global.

The virtual meeting was also attended by representatives of AES Panama, Enagas, Galileo Technologies, IBP, IHS-Markit, Naturgy, Pluspetrol, SYCAR, YPF, among other prominent participants from operating companies, consulting firms, industry associations, international organizations and government authorities.

Lucía Mora Ruiloba from GIIGNL presented an update of the sector statistics at the international and regional level, highlighting a global 6.3% growth in the first half of 2021 in the market and almost 60% in the Region, mainly driven by the increased Brazil needs as a result of the drought, and an increased demand in Argentina, Chile, Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

The Secretariat of Energy of Argentina highlighted the Gas Plan and the granting of firm export permits for summer periods (low demand).

Meanwhile, the Secretariat of Energy of Panama emphasized the role of gas in the national energy diversification strategy and as a substitute for more expensive and polluting fuels, which represent 25% of the electric power generation matrix.

Heloisa Borges of EPE Brazil highlighted the importance of the progress made developing the new competitive gas market, once the New Gas Law had been approved, and said that LNG has been critical in providing flexibility to the electric power system during the drought.

SPEC LNG (Cartagena Regasification Plant) discussed the importance of natural gas to provide flexibility to the electric power supply, which is highly variable due to its hydric base and the El Niño and La Niña phenomena.

In line with the other panelists, Gabriela Aguilar from Excelerate highlighted the role of gas in providing security and flexibility to the energy system, which is complementary to the natural gas domestic production.