Aresep Decision Could
Leave Country With
Natural Gas Shortage
A possible shortage of
the supply of natural
gas has the Autoridad
Reguladora de los
Servicios Públicos (Aresep)
backed into a corner,
according to the daily
La Nación, which will
seriously affect 30% of
the households which use
natural gas to cook, as
well as restaurants and
public hospitals.
Last December 21, the
Aresep, decided to
rescind the concessions
to natural gas
suppliers, Gas Nacional
Zeta and Tropigás.
The loss of concession
that is to take effect
on March 12, 2008,
prohibits Zeta and
Tropigás to sell and
store natural gas.
The two related
companies represent 85%
of all natural gas sold
in the market, according
to the Ministerio del
Ambiente y Energía (MINAE)
- Environment and Energy
ministry.
The Aresep sanctioned
Zeta and Tropigás
because both companies
did not comply with
concession contracts
issued by the MINAE.
The regulator determined
that the companies
withheld some 9.000 gas
tanks of its competitor,
Petrogás, which filed
the complaint with the
Aresep, which decided to
give Zeta and Tropigás
three months to sell of
its supply.
However, regulator
Fernando Herrero, said
"we do not want to make
any sudden changes that
will negatively affect
users and the companies.
If more time is needed,
we will extend the time
as necessary".
Herrero said that the
conflict may be resolved
with the intervention of
the MINAE, which has
asked for approval to
reorganize the gas
market so that the
companies can comply.
Herrera is hopeful that
the MINAE can negotiate
with the companies to
resolve the situation,
recognizing that the
competition between the
suppliers is not even
and that it will set out
clear conditions with
the exchange of the gas
cylinders.
"It is up to them (MINAE)
to define is there is a
need for more or less
operators", said
Herrera.
Óscar Porras, director
de Transporte y
Comercialización de
Hidrocarburos del Minae,
said that no company has
yet to request a new
concession, adding that
he cannot issue a
concession to any
company unless it
requests one.
Porras is conscious that
the Aresep decision
affects 85% of the
supply and that hotels,
homes and hospitals will
be left without gas.
For his part, MINAE
minister, Roberto Dobles,
confirmed that his
ministry is working on
new regulations to
organize the natural gas
market.
A Tropigás
representative told the
press that the company
is working normally and
is positive that the
Aresep will resolve the
appeals by Tropigás and
Zeta and that they are
continuing to receive
gas from the Refinadora
Costarricense de
Petróleo (Recope).
The concern is that both
Petrogás and Gas Tomza,
the fourth gas supplier,
cannot fill the void in
the marketplace if Zeta
and Tropigás are forced
to shut down, as the
companies will need time
to make large financial
investments in
infrastructure and
distribution.
Óscar Beltrán,
representing Tomza, said
that his company cannot
invest millions without
first knowing the
decision of the Aresep,
saying that once the
Aresep decision is made,
his company can develop
a plan.
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