The popular press likes to report on the movement of WTI and Brent as benchmarks for Colombia crude prices. In the worst cases, they only report WTI often calling it “the price of oil”. The reality is that Colombian crude spans a number of grades and qualities based on viscosity and sulfur content. The global benchmarks are relevant but quality and transportation cost against such benchmarks are what determines price. The graph shows the distribution of API (viscosity) by volume as measured by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
According to a MinMinas press release, natural gas service this year reached 550,000 new users and electricity subsidies for economic stata 1, 2 and 3 will total CoP$ 2.3B (US$1.3B). This was announced on Monday by MinMinas, Federico Renjifo, as part of the mining and energy sector Accountability Public Hearing.
Ecopetrol guarantees that all diesel fuel from January 1st, 2013 will have only 50ppm sulfur. From an Ecopetrol press release with comments by Hydrocarbons Colombia.
The Spanish electricity generation company said in a press release that it will enter the retail gas market next year. According to the press release: “This initiative responds to the opportunities presented in the Colombian market and expectations that consumers currently have for new offers and agents.”
RCN Radio reports what appears to be a Transgas Occidente press release.
In November 2011 and May 2012 there were breaks in the line of the PK78 PK77 sector of the Mariquita-Cali pipeline. In order to repair these breaks, the Transgas de Occidente company has invested CoP$9,000M in a realignment of 550 meters. PK77-PK78 sector is located in the city of Manizales.
As reported RCN Radio, while in Venezuela and Ecuador the price per gallon of gasoline is US$0,19 and US$1,54 respectively, in Colombia is US$4.14, the fourth highest in Latin America. Uruguay is the Latin American country with the most expensive gasoline (US$5.75 per gallon), followed by Brazil (US$5.34 per gallon) and Chile (US$4.39 per gallon). The high price per gallon of gasoline in Colombia surpasses even that of the United States, where it is estimated that a gallon of gasoline costs US$2.85. It takes a barrel of oil to produce 42 gallons of gasoline.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy inaugurated the first business conference in the gas sector involving producers, transport companies, distributors and local suppliers. Seventy companies responded to the call made by Naturgas —the association of natural gas distributors, producers, transporters and retailers.
As reported by La República, Ecopetrol estimates that by the end of 2012 it will have invested CoP$951,000M at its refinery in Barrancabermeja (Santander). The investment has been earmarked for equipment replacement, maintenance and inspections. Thus Ecopetrol has ensured the operation of turbo generators, power lines, substations, boilers and other major operating systems within the refinery.
Resources from this fund were approved for financing 7 of natural gas networks and connections infrastructure projects by Resolution 180 458 (August 2012). From a MinMinas press release. Translated, edited and with commentary by Hydrocarbons Colombia.
The Colombian Natural Gas Association (Naturgas) will hold a business roundtable with producers, distributors and entrepreneurs to look for innovative business opportunities. The event will be held in Bogota on November 15/16, 2012. From a Naturgas press release. Translated and with commentary by Hydrocarbons Colombia.
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