Consortium wins feasibility study contract for natural gas network in Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay

(La Paz, Feb. 17, 2012).- The Tractebel Engineering (TE) and Energy Consulting Services (ECS) consortium won a contract for a feasibility study on natural gas network integration between Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, part of an initiative known as Urupabol.

Six bidders responded to the call for tenders made by the governments of Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, with support from CAF –development bank of Latin America.

The feasibility study will be carried out within six months at a cost of US$300,000, financed with non-reimbursable funding provided by CAF.

In Dec. 2011, Bolivia’s Hydrocarbons and Energy Ministry, Paraguay’s Mines and Energy Vice Ministry, and Uruguay’s Industry, Energy and Mining Ministries issued the call for bids. Their goal was to explore the feasibility –taking into account economic, technological, geopolitical, legal, social and environmental considerations– of selling Bolivia’s natural gas to Paraguay and Uruguay, shipping it along the Paraguay-Parana waterway.

The tender was highly competitive, with very narrow differences between the qualifications awarded to the six contending proposals, assessed by a team of experts from Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay as well as CAF.

Support for the Urupabol project is part of CAF’s Sustainable Energy Program, which seeks to promote strategic measures in the field, including energy integration projects, improved quality and coverage of power supply, renewable energy resources, efficient energy management and decision-making.