Ecopetrol's Colombia Pacific regasification facility faces a delay in startup

The director of the project said that Colombia's Pacific Regasification Plant contracted by the'state energy company Ecopetrol' has delayed its start-up 'by between 22 and 30 days' to November 1 due to transportation disruptions caused by an earthquake.

Mauricio Gómez stated that while the plant was not damaged by the 7.4 magnitude quake, the damage to the port and local roads prevented the unloading of imported machinery.

It was necessary to divert the equipment and have it unloaded instead in Peru and Panama, which added to?the delays.

Gomez said that the management of the plant is in negotiations with Ecopetrol, to declare force majeure so as to avoid penalties.

Gomez stated, "We agree this is a clear event that releases us from any liability."

Gomez said that operations could begin 'earlier than the 1st of November if the project switches over to 24-hour shifts. However, "making a firm commitment is difficult as there are variables outside our control."

Ecopetrol didn't immediately respond to our request for comment.

The plant, located in the southwest Valle del Cauca Department, is designed to import liquefied gas, store it, and then convert it - all with the goal of reducing domestic fuel shortages.

Ecopetrol claims that the regasification will be 60 million cubic feet a day. Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra, Editing by Chris Reese

(source: Reuters)