HomeNewsPuerto Bahía and GASCO agree to pursue LPG project in Cartagena, Colombia

Puerto Bahía and GASCO agree to pursue LPG project in Cartagena, Colombia

7/23/2024

Frontera Energy Corp. has announced that its subsidiary, Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahía S.A. and Gasco Soluciones Logísticas y Energéticas S.A.S. (GASCO) have entered into a framework collaboration agreement to jointly pursue a liquified petroleum gas (LPG) project at Puerto Bahía's state-of-the-art liquids and dry cargo port terminal strategically located in the Bay of Cartagena, Colombia.

The agreement covers the construction and operation of the LPG project and is expected to be in service by 2027. Frontera owns a 99.97% equity interest in Puerto Bahía.

Orlando Cabrales, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frontera, commented: "We are excited to enter into this Agreement with GASCO to build and operate LPG facilities at Puerto Bahía. Through the Agreement, Puerto Bahía and GASCO will bring LPG facilities online in 2027 to capitalize on increasing LPG supply deficits in the Colombian market at a time when the LPG market is expected to grow at 4% per year. These supply deficits present a unique opportunity for Puerto Bahía, in partnership with GASCO, to become the strategic destination for Colombian LPG imports. Leveraging Puerto Bahía's infrastructure and strategic location and GASCO's experience and current domestic LPG distribution market share, the LPG project aims to be Colombia's lowest cost importer and will capture a significant share of this market over time, generating total project yearly EBITDA of $10 –$15 MM once it reaches its target capacity."

Cristian Aguirre, General Manager (CEO), Gasco, commented: "This is an important project that we have been working with our team in Colombia, Puerto Bahía and Frontera. We consider that this project can fill a large part of the needs for LPG imports of the Colombian market, in the near future and in the long term. Let us remember that LPG is a base fuel for the energy transition and for the reduction of emissions worldwide; Additionally, in Colombia it is part of the fuel base used by industry, energy generation and residential use. We will continue working with all this great team—GASCO, Puerto Bahía and Frontera—to achieve the complete development of this important project and to start to offer to all the Colombian market a magnificent import facility for LPG as soon as possible."

Puerto Bahía and GASCO have signed a collaboration agreement to develop a 20,400-t LPG refrigerated storage facility at Puerto Bahía. The estimated cost of the project is between $50 MM and $60 MM, which will be shared between Puerto Bahía and GASCO. Puerto Bahía's contributions are expected to be largely in-kind.

As part of the agreement, Puerto Bahía and GASCO will establish a joint venture to develop, construct and operate the LPG facilities at Puerto Bahía's port terminal in Cartagena, Colombia. The project may include additional phases to capture larger volumes, depending on market demand for LPG.

According to the Colombian Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME), Colombia consumes approximately 700,000 tpy of LPG and will require 1 MMtpy by 2031. It is estimated that under the base case scenario, approximately 160,000 tpy of the entire Colombian market could be imported and supplied through this new facility, increasing annually to 340,000 tpy by 2030 and beyond. Once constructed, the facility will accommodate two very large gas carriers (VLGC) per month to supply LPG to the Colombian domestic market.

This collaboration is a significant step forward in meeting Colombia's growing energy needs and demonstrates the commitment of Puerto Bahía and Gasco to investing in the country's energy infrastructure.

 

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