International Gas Research Conference

Banff, AB, Canada | May 13-16, 2024

» Chile’s total gas consumption was 8.3 bcm in 2022. Around 84% of this volume was imported – almost half in LNG form and the remainder as pipeline supply from Argentina.

» In 2021 Argentina met 15% of total gas consumption in Chile, highlighting the country’s importance as a supplier. But gas from Argentina continues to be delivered under short-term contracts, with limited firm conditions. Most of the supply arrives in summer and there is less in winter. Therefore, LNG will continue playing an important role in Chilean energy diversification and security.

» There has been significant growth in natural gas consumption for power generation, even surpassing coal and renewable sources. On March 30 this year, the system generated 24% of the total demand with natural gas, leaving solar generation, hydroelectric, and coal behind. High gas use is the result of a lack of sufficient transmission capacity to fully utilise solar capacity in the north of the country and the increased availability of

» The reasons behind this can be attributed to two main factors: the lack of sufficient transmission capacity to fully utilise solar generation from the north of the country and the increased availability of Argentine gas.

» A major disruption to 2023 deliveries to GNL Mejillones LNG terminal in the country’s north, as a result of TotalEnergies defaulting on its long-term LNG supply contract with Engie, has been partially offset with the supply of alternative local and international spot cargoes.

Colombia boasts the highest gas coverage rate in Latin America, and wants to expand that coverage even further, while also using gas to decarbonise the transport sector.

» Colombia’s total gas consumption in 2022 was 29.5 bcm, supplied by local production. The Ecopetrol group is the main player in the upstream sector, with a market share of 80%.

Call for papers – now open!

Closes September 15, 2023

IGRC2024 is the next triannual global gathering of innovators, academics, research organizations and industry leaders where the latest research, leading practices and experiences will be shared. We encourage you to submit your paper abstracts and be part of the dialogue that will shape the gas industry's future.

Submissions covering the full industry value chain are accepted under the following six streams:

•Stream 1: Natural Gas 2.0

•Stream 2: Methane emissions reduction

•Stream 3: Responsibly Sourced Gas (RSG) certification

•Stream 4: Renewable methane

•Stream 5: Hydrogen

•Stream 6: Digital transformation

» Natural gas coverage in Colombia reaches more than 10.8mn residential users, benefitting around 36mn people. This represents the highest coverage rate in Latin America.

» The highest consumption is in the industrial sector (32%), followed by the residential sector (22%) and the power generation sector (21%).

» The SPEC regasification plant provides stability and back-up supply for the electrical grid.

» Colombia is committed to decarbonising the transport sector, and to date there are already more than 670,000 vehicles converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) and more than 4,400 cargo and passenger vehicles also using the fuel. This year more than 1,000 heavy-duty vehicles (buses and trucks) are also expected to be converted to CNG.

» Regarding public policy, the ministry of mines and energy presented the Just Energy Transition roadmap in May, which focuses on four pillars and reinforces the government’s message of positioning natural gas as a key fuel of the energy transition. It focuses on developing infrastructure for gas supply in order to substitute the use of firewood for cooking among rural and urban families.

Trinidad & Tobago needs more gas to cover demand at its petrochemical plants and Atlantic LNG trains. A potential deal to access gas from the Dragon Gas project in Venezuelan waters could be the answer.

» Trinidad & Tobago gas demand exceeds supply. The difference is not covered and so the resultant effect is that the petrochemical plants and Atlantic LNG trains do not run at maximum capacity (i.e. there is room to produce more LNG and petrochemical products if there was more gas supply). The country’s overall gas supply in 2022 was 27.8 bcm, with 47% supplied to LNG facilities and 53% to the domestic market, including for gas-fired power generation.

» The 2022 onshore upstream bidding round closed in January this year, with 16 bids submitted by eight companies.

The energy ministry continues its evaluation and awards are expected to be made by the fourth quarter of this year.

» Woodside Energy and Shell continue to progress the offshore Calypso and Manatee gas development projects respectively, targeting first supply post-2027.

» After a weak fourth quarter in 2022, the global demand for methanol is increasing, with many sectors of the market reporting gradual improvements in operating rates and economic optimism.

» Trinidad & Tobago signed a non-disclosure agreement with the Venezuelan government on March 14 concerning gas supply from the Venezuelan Dragon Gas project. The Dragon deal, if successful, will give Trinidad & Tobago access to gas from fields in Venezuela’s territorial waters.

» On November 29 last year, Trinidad & Tobago’s energy ministry launched “The Roadmap for a Green Hydrogen Economy in T&T” to evaluate the country’s potential to produce green hydrogen as a means of decarbonising the nation’s power and industrial sectors.