Martin Bidegaray
04/22/2021 8:33 AM
Clarín.com
Economy
Updated 04/22/2021 8:35 AM
The conflict and roadblocks for health system workers in Neuquén, which has been going on for more than 15 days and has paralyzed the Vaca Muerta megafield, already generates
economic losses of close to US $ 400 million
, according to the oil companies.
Even the gas regulator (Enargas) warned in a letter that "these union conflicts, if accompanied by untimely measures,
could
suddenly
affect
the injection" of gas into the system.
The situation
may affect the supply of gas to homes
, according to the regulator.
Vaca Muerta has been blocking and cutting its routes for 15 days.
The province is running out of fuel
and there are towns with queues of cars for several kilometers to buy gasoline.
A large part of Neuquén is cut off by the cuts made by the so-called Self-Summoned Health Workers who have a
hard confrontation with the government of Omar Gutiérrez
over a wage claim.
"Without being able to receive diesel oil and supplies for both the drilling equipment and the fracturing equipment,
Vaca Muerta today has 25 drilling equipment and 6 fracture equipment
(completion of wells)
paralyzed
," said the Chamber of Hydrocarbons Exploration and Production ( CEPH) in a note.
The industry has a commitment to deliver gas for an official stimulus plan.
But companies say they
are prevented
from doing so, because everything is blocked.
"The immediate impact is clear: the delay in the development of new wells
will force our country to urgently import more
liquid
fuels
(diesel and fuel oil) or LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) through regasification ships, for a
approximate additional cost for the Argentine trade balance of US $ 190 million
considering the blockades until yesterday, "according to CEPH estimates.
The country has already tendered gas imports for US $ 330 million for the winter.
If you add to that these US $ 190 million that the oil industry denounces,
the Central Bank will go US $ 520 million to consume foreign gas.
Each day of the lockdown costs the industry about $ 13 million
, according to industry estimates.
As it has been more than 15 days, the accumulated border the US $ 195 million and continues running.
The companies complain because the measures
prevent the replacement and transfer of
oil
workers
and their contractors, and they do not receive supplies for the exploitation of deposits.
Federico Bernal, controller of Enargas, sent a
letter to the Minister of Economy
, Martín Guzmán, the Secretary of Energy Darío Martínez, and the Minister of Labor Claudio Moroni asking them to intervene.
Protest of employees of the Health sector in Neuquén.
Facebook photo
Although Enargas can only regulate the part of public service, "the coordinated articulation of the sectors involved in the framework of the respective competencies and functions is necessary, whether it is the National State, as well as the providers of licensed services," he said.
The conflict in Vaca Muerta is already subtracting 380 million cubic meters of gas from the system.
They are about 25 million cubic meters per day
, equivalent to US $ 13 million.
"It is urgent that the province of Neuquén provide the necessary measures for the resolution of the conflict, putting an end to these 15 days of blockades and roadblocks," said CEPH.
"The claims and conflicts settled through non-institutional channels and outside the constitutional provisions impede the realization of investments and the basic productive development of Argentina and its resources," they added.
NE
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