Colombia will reduce gas exports to Venezuela as the country prepares for a predicted drought caused by weather phenomenon “El Niño,” local media reported Monday.Mining and Energy Minister, Amylkar Acosta, announced that Colombia will reduce gas exports to Venezuela to ensure that it has enough fuel to run its power plants.
Acosta did not specify by how much exports would be reduced.
Acosta underlined that the suspension is temporary and that the decision has been discussed between the two countries.
The minister told newspaper El Universal that 150 million cubic feet of gas is transported to Venezuela daily. According to Acosta, the suspension is a preparation for the worst, if El Niño should hit the area.
El Niño is associated with very warm and rainy weather and the effects of it can be major flooding.
Gas exports are transported via a 224 miles long pipeline from northeastern Colombian to the Venezuelan state of Zulia. The gas transportation is part of a bi-national project from 2002. The project’s aim is to exchange gas whenever one of the two countries requires it.
Sources
- Colombia suspende envío de gas a Venezuela (El Colombiano)
- Suspenden el suministro de gas a Venezuela (El Universal)