From North to South, New Pipe Delivers Power to Argentina
Argentina is the second-largest country in South America and its sheer size is one of the greatest obstacles it faces concerning its energy supply. The reserves of natural gas that it relies upon for power must travel from the farthest reaches of its borders and even a bit beyond. To forestall an energy shortage that would jeopardize ongoing efforts to right the country’s shaky economy, Argentina is pushing a massive program to construct 2,300 kilometers of new pipeline that will increase the country’s natural-gas capacity by 22 million cubic meters per day.
The Argentinean arm of Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht is heading an $1.9-billion effort to construct almost three-fourths of that line, almost 1,700 kilometers, by the first quarter of 2010. In addition, nine compressor plants will be retrofitted and six new ones built.