President Alberto Fernández, together with Governor Sergio Ziliotto, toured the President Néstor Kirchner gas pipeline works in the Pampa town of Doblas, where a state-of-the-art automated welding system was put into operation for the first time in Argentina, which will allow the productivity levels required to complete the project to be reached."This is a central work for the future of Argentina that will guarantee us the gas that we have had to import all this time, losing foreign currency and resources that we will be able to use in production and work, which is what matters most to us," said the president.
The head of state highlighted "the technology that Argentine businessmen have brought to develop this project" and pointed out the importance of its completion "in the middle of this year, to continue on the road to Santa Fe and from there supply gas not only to the north of Argentina, but also to Brazil, which is in need of gas energy and we will be able to supply it".The President Néstor Kirchner Gas Pipeline, the main energy transformation project underway in the country in the last 40 years, will increase the capacity of Argentina's natural gas transport system from Vaca Muerta by 25 percent and save more than 2.9 billion dollars a year by replacing fuel imports and reducing subsidies.
With a total length of 573 kilometers, in addition to increasing the availability of gas at competitive prices, it will generate 10,000 direct jobs and another 40,000 indirect jobs, between construction and the increased production expected in Vaca Muerta.For his part, Governor Ziliotto said that "going from being gas importers to being gas exporters to achieve energy sovereignty is a very important change" and that "we are very proud that the province of La Pampa is part of an unprecedented event in Argentina".Accompanied also by the local mayor, Anelisa Gómez, the president went to the mobile installation where the welding point that runs with the automated system is located, near kilometer 440 of the gas pipeline route that will run between Tratayén (Neuquén) and Salliqueló (Buenos Aires).
This automatic pipe welding equipment, which comes from the United States and guarantees a constant level of production and quality, will be used in sections 1 and 2, the two longest sections of the initiative being carried out by the Techint and SACDE joint venture, which total 440 kilometres of 36-inch diameter pipes.
The works also include the duplication of the Nuba II gas pipeline, in the town of Ordoqui, in the Buenos Aires district of Carlos Casares; and the construction of the new Mercedes - Cardales gas pipeline, which will create an interconnection route between the North and South systems.The Head of State was accompanied by the Secretary General of the Presidency, Julio Vitobello, and the spokesperson of the Presidency, Gabriela Cerruti.
The businessmen Marcelo Mindlin (Pampa Energía SA), Damián Mindlin (SACDE SA), Pablo Brottier (SACDE SA), Daniel Flaks (SACDE SA), Gustavo Gallino (Techint) and David Uriburu (Techint) also took part in the tour.Prior to this activity, the Chairman shared a meeting with children attending the summer camp at Club Independiente de Doblas.
