Bolivia set to begin in July commercial operations of its new gas liquids plant, will export more LPG

The government of Bolivia will start commercial operations of its Gran Chaco plant in July which will help the country greatly increases its exports of LPG, the country’s national agency of hydrocarbons said on June 26. Exports of LPG are expected to start bringing in $200 million annually compared with $33 million in 2014.

The plant will process 32.2 million cubic meters per day of natural gas and this will help it produce 2,247 tons daily of LPG as well as 1,658 barrels daily of natural gasoline, in addition to basic petrochemicals, according to the press release.

The country’s Energy Minister, Luis Alberto Sanchez, said that 1,200 tons of LPG will not be needed in Bolivia so they will be exported to five neighboring countries including Peru, where drivers in recent months have complained of shortages of this fuel which is also used for vehicles in addition to its main use as cooking fuel.

Sanchez said that the new plant will be ready to export LPG in the last quarter of the year while commercial activities will begin in July.

“We have 1,200 tons of excess LPG and the markets are Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The volumes to be exported will vary depending on prices,” the minister said.

Sanchez said that the Gran Chaco plant will begin commercial operations in July while the export of LPG will begin in the last quarter of the year.