ARGENTINA’S president Nestor Kirchner and his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales, have launched the tendering process for the first section of the $2-bn GNEA (Gasoducto del Noreste Argentino) gas pipeline project. The 1590-km long 30- and 36-in pipeline will have the capacity to transport 27.7m cum/d of Bolivian gas to Argentina, where it will supply the provinces of Chaco, Corrientes, Formosa, Norte de Santa Fe, and Missiones.
1500kms of the route are in Argentina, while 90 are in Bolivia.
The pipeline is planned to be able to deliver 8m cum/d of gas to Argentina's national network by the end of 2008, Argentina's federal planning, public investment, and services minister Julio De Vido, said, and the entire pipeline is due to be completed by 2010. Argentina's state energy company Enarsa has issued tenders for the supply of the 30- and 36-in pipe, valued at $745m. The project also includes a $400-500m liquids separation plant. Bolivia's state hydrocarbons company YPFB – Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos – said earlier this month that it will open a 'data room' in the lead-up to the tendering for the basic plant engineering on 3 August.
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