on Wednesday highlighted the government's objective of boosting the unlocking of nine large productive projects which represent a portfolio of US$10.555 billion.
These are the following projects: Toromocho, Yanacocha Sulfides, Antamina Expansion, Inmaculada Optimization, Zafranal Deposit, San Gabriel Project, Rio Seco Copper Plant, Yumpaq Project, and Retamas Expansion, among others.
Massive use of natural gas
The Prime Minister referred to the massive use of natural gas and affirmed that
Minem will
promote the expansion of the current natural gas network —with an investment of S/491 million (about US$129 million) so that 110,000 households can access cheaper and less polluting fuel.
"The Government will promote the Natural Gas Massive Use project through a network of pipelines in two producing regions: Cusco and Ucayali; plus, five High-Andean regions: Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Junin, Apurimac, and Puno," the Cabinet chief specified.
"Likewise, it will manage and boost the development of Arequipa region. It is our purpose that, in July 2024, the populations of Ayacucho, Cusco, Ucayali, Apurimac, Huancavelica, Junin, and Puno rely on the natural gas service," he pointed out.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister announced that the Southern Gas Pipeline project will be reactivated so that it is executed and completed as conceived. This will allow the development of a Petrochemical Complex, which includes fertilizers and thermoelectric plants, reinvigorating the massive use programs for Peru's southern coast.
In his presentation, the Cabinet chief reported that, by July 2024, natural gas coverage will reach 2 million connected households. He said there are currently more than 1.8 million homes —distributed among Lima, Callao, Ica, Ancash, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna, and Piura regions— whose members enjoy the benefits of cheap and clean fuel.
The high-ranking official also affirmed that 370,000 vehicles were converted into natural gas vehicles in December 2022. More than 68,000 vehicles were financed by the Ahorro GNV (Natural Gas for Vehicle Savings) program.
By July 2024, an additional coverage of 150,000 vehicle conversions to GNV will be achieved in 9 Peruvian regions: Lima, Callao, Ica, La Libertad, Cusco, Junin, Lambayeque, Piura, and Ancash.
Regarding the vouchers of the Social Energy Inclusion Fund (FISE), which subsidizes the purchase of 10-kg LPG cylinders, he said that, for producing areas, an increase in the subsidy (+S/11 = US$2.89) has been approved, which will raise its value from S/32 (about US$8.42) to S/43 (about US$11.31).
In areas of direct influence of extraction operations, the vouchers will rise from S/32 (about US$8.42) to S/63 (about US$16.57).
Referring to the Talara Refinery, he announced that it will start producing low-sulfur fuels in January —both for diesel and for naphtha or gasoline, with a sulfur content of less than 50 parts per million.