Construction of the pipeline: the specifications exclude Cristóbal López

After the tender for the pipes, whose only bidder was Tenaris, the civil works for the gas pipeline connecting Vaca Muerta with Buenos Aires arrives. Just like the pipes require an investment of 600 million dollars, civil works will consume approximately 1,000 million dollars. According to specific releases last Friday, only some construction companies will be able to participate.

The four companies that would qualify to advance in this process are Techint (who will also take care of the pipes), Sacè (by Marcelo Mindlin), BTU (whose directors were detained in the case of “corruption notebooks”) e Victor Contreras. “These are companies that in the past have built gas pipelines or sections of gas pipelines of this magnitude, which are very important gas pipelines on a global scale”; explains the consultant Daniel Gerold, much listened to by energy companies.

The specifications, released on Friday by Energía Argentina (the former Ieasa),they would have excluded CPC, the construction company of Cristóbal López. The opening of the offers will take place on 8 July.

Interested companies must demonstrate experience in the construction of gas pipelines of more than 75 kilometers of high pressure. This situation would also leave out other companies in the sector, such as Panedile, Pecom (from the Perez Companc family, bought Skanska) and Vertúa, which have had problems building the Northeast gas pipeline (GNEA).

“The names are great engineering companies they have machinery and financial capacity enough to be able to perform it in a very short time. The key is that. In the past it was tried with smaller companies, but not with this pipe diameter, which is a very important diameter, 36 inchesGerold adds. “I wouldn’t give something that complex to a company that has no experience,” he said.

A week ago Antonio Pronsato – former controller of Enargas – dissociated himself from the construction of the gas pipeline built by Energía Argentina (formerly Iesa and formerly Enarsa). There he was helping in the pipeline bidding process. Pronsato said he resigned. Another government source said they asked him to step down. The reasons, according to that official, they were others. Pronsato would look for some sheets more friendly with CPC functions (Cristóbal López’s company) and was also responsible for the acquisition of some valves.

The latter complaint, that of the valves, was also reiterated by the resigning Matías Kulfas in his discussion on Saturday morning, where he considered them to be entrusted to a foreign company. Energía Argentina clarified that “the tender procedure for the acquisition of valves it is still open and will be declared bankrupt by Energía Argentina due to the fact that none of the offers received complies with the required delivery terms “.

“The specs, from what I’ve seen, are correct,” Gerold said in statements to Radio Miter. “(The gas pipeline for Vaca Muerta) is a big project that requires teams that are formed over the years, working together, who know each other, who have made pipes in Colombia, Brazil or Argentina ”, he highlighted.

The the gas regulator (Enargas) does not participate in the processnor advice to Argentine energy authorities, according to industry sources.

The pipeline will have different sections, some more complex than others. The paths are in some cases longer, or crossed, where the consent of the respective owners is required.