Pipeline: Government would now ask Congress for oversight

In Energía Argentina, the state-owned company responsible for the Vaca Muerta pipeline, they do not want the trial to be delayed by the latest subpoenas. Therefore, they study how incorporate more “eyes” to control the work. It is analyzed by the call to a Bicameral congress monitoring commission to request assistance from the Ministry of Productive Development.

“All the specifications are on the site, the process is transparent, anyone can verify the decisions made. Even the entrepreneur in question (Paolo Rocca, of Techint) came out to explain. We do not want the works to be delayed due to legal issues “, reason in the energetic Kirchnerism, which takes care of this project that will cost 1.6 billion dollars.

“Any delay in justice it means not being able to go on in a race that is fundamental to lower gas imports ”, reason in the ruling party. They study by incorporating new spaces of “control” or “supervision” of what they are doing. In recent days, the version has been strengthened to ask for collaboration from the Ministry of Productive Development, led by Daniel Scioli.

The idea that the energy official architects it is to entrust the task precisely to the ministry that questioned him, i.e. Productive Development, led by Matías Kulfas. “That officer he was wrong and that’s why he left the government. But in that ministry there are capable people who can verify that every step that has been taken is justified ”, they reason, in statements that they do not want to make public.

Another possibility is to ask Congress to form a commission to monitor the proceedings, made up of legislators from various political parties. “Let them go through everything checked. They won’t find anything problematic. “ fencing.

Former Minister of Productive Development, Matías Kulfas, questioned whether the supply of pipes is from Techint. But that company was the only one that participated in the tender. Kulfas also disputed that they were 36-inch pipes, and no less. However, that technical specificity is in the specification right from the start.

“The specification of the tubes requires the bee seal, that very few plants can do. Furthermore, it is necessary to roll up plates from 8 to 19 millimeters thick, which is not easy. And it is a more than important figure. We must entrust it to a company that can do it ”, explains a technician who does not work for the government or for any supplier, but with experience in the field.

While the judicial situation regarding the assignment of the pipeline is being resolved, Energía Argentina is preparing for the civil works. It will be $ 1,000 million and requires some speed. This is why the government wants there are “more eyes” that look, in order to achieve speed and that every step does not go through a judicial process.

According to specific releases last Friday, only some construction companies will be able to participate.

The four companies that would meet the requirements to advance in this process are Techint (who will also handle the pipes), Sacde (which shares shareholders with Marcelo Mindlin’s Pampa Energía), BTU (whose directors were arrested in the case of the ” notebooks of bribes “) and Víctor Contreras. “They are companies that have Previously built pipelines or sections of pipelines of this size, which are very important gas pipelines on a global scale ”, according to industry experts.

The opening of the offers will take place on July 8th. Interested companies must demonstrate experience in construction of gas pipelines of over 75 kilometers of high pressure.

Ten days ago Antonio Pronsato – former controller of Enargas- sit dissociated itself from the construction of the pipeline carried out by Energía Argentina (formerly Ieasa 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 situation has not yet been publicly clarified.

Energía Argentina is also trying close the purchase of valves. The company said in a statement that “the bidding process for the purchase of valves is still open and will be declared bankrupt by Energía Argentina because none of the offers received meet the required delivery times”.

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.