Rising Peru gas reserves will allow development of pipeline, petrochemicals

BY ROBERT KOZAK

Peru -- Peru's natural gas reserves increased by about 2.5 Tcf in 2012, helping to provide supplies for a pipeline to southern Peru, a high level government official said.

Deputy Energy Minister Edwin Quintanilla said that the increased gas supplies will allow the nation to proceed with a project to build a pipeline to move gas to southern regions, build petrochemical production facilities, and increase industrial and residential use in the southern part of the nation.

"We can confirm that Peru has sufficient proven reserves of natural gas, which are increasing, that make it possible to move ahead with the south Peruvian pipeline project," he said.

Most of the gas that has been found is located in lots 88 and 56 in the Camisea fields.

Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines said that at the end of 2012, Peru had proven natural gas reserves of 15.4 Tcf .

The government is working on a plan to construct a pipeline to help move gas from the Camisea fields to populated regions of southern Peru.