(Argus, 1.Sep.2021) — Brazil’s natural gas imports in January-July reached a total of 8.7bn m³ (310 Bcf), already reaching above the full-year total for 2020 of 7.8bn m³, according to oil and gas regulator ANP.
Imports so far this year are equivalent to 37mn m³/d and include gas from neighboring countries, such as Bolivia, and LNG.
This year’s imports are also only 10pc below the volumes brought to the country in all of 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Brazil is facing a severe drought, leading to more thermal power generation to compensate for the decline in hydropower.
Brazil imported 1.8bn m³ in July 2021, the highest volume since January 2015, when the country had also faced a drought in the previous year.
From January to July, Brazil natural gas and LNG import has topped 1bn m³/month.
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By Flávia Pierry
