Monday, 25 February 2008

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil fail to find gas solution


The presidents of Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil failed to reach a deal on Saturday to redistribute Bolivia's diminished natural gas exports and give Argentina the larger share it seeks.
Energy ministers will form a crisis group and meet again in ten days to try to reach a solution after Argentina was not able to make Brazil to give up some of its share of Bolivia's natural gas, Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana told reporters.
"In 10 days the energy ministers will meet in La Paz to seek a solution," Jose Sergio Gabrielli, president of Brazilian state oil firm Petrobras, told reporters after the meeting.
"Argentina asked for 1 million cubic meters of natural gas per day (of those Brazil consumes," but he said Brazil is only willing to sell electric power to Argentina during the winter months.
Bolivia, which also has growing energy demands, has been unable to keep up with promised levels of natural gas exports to its two neighbors, the largest economies in South America.
Argentina and Brazil both produce oil and gas, but not enough to supply their demand in them during peak periods. Bolivian natural gas is a key energy source for Sao Paulo, the hub of Brazil's industrial production.
Fast economic growth on the back of high prices for raw materials such as Argentine and Brazilian soy, Chilean copper and Bolivian natural gas, have made not clear energy shortages a concern in much of South America.

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