A long line of residents waiting to buy pellet under heavy rain occurred in Puerto Varas, because a local fuel distribution store received a shipment of 1,200 bags. Sales were limited to only seven bags per person. There was not only a line of residents inside and outside the distributor, but also traffic chaos with people trying to park to buy and load the bags of the precious shipment that will allow them to heat their homes during this long winter.
According to data from the Seremi of Energy, the Los Lagos Region has the highest national consumption of pellet, with an average of 94,500 tons per year, representing 20% of national consumption (547 thousand tons nationwide), with 35,000 households supplied by this fuel.
Pellet reduces CO2 emissions by 90%, so its use has been promoted by the authorities to avoid pollution in southern Chile due to the use of firewood.
According to an article published on T13, pellet consumption (made from wood) has increased by 900% in the last 10 years, and its production has decreased due to the contraction of the wood market both nationally and internationally. They also point out the complex situation in the southern macrozone with wood theft and rural violence.
Tomas Baader, a resident of Puerto Varas, commented on the shortage situation of this fuel that complicates thousands of households: "The authorities asked for a change in the heating matrix due to firewood pollution; many people made the effort to install a pellet stove, but today there is no stock almost anywhere. Now (yesterday afternoon) they were selling at Puerto Pellets, but it was a sea of desperate people, standing in the rain with an endless line getting soaked like drowned rats!! And the public authority washing their hands of it, from the Minister of Economy on down and their seremis. The regional government is indifferent; it is truly the last straw that this happened in the middle of winter. We have already been almost a month without stock, and people are running for two or three bags. I feel that our authorities show an impressive level of incompetence. Pellet consumption for the Los Lagos region is approximately 500 thousand bags in peak season, which implies almost 300 trucks for the region, and only 20 to 30 arrive at best!! It is irresponsible of the distributors, and there should be a much more aggressive contingency plan to resolve this disaster; otherwise, we will all have to go back to firewood and send the zone's decontamination plan wherever they see fit. With today's weather and rain, it is incredible to see all those people standing on the street getting soaked for 3 or 4 bags."
The price per bag has risen from $4,990 at the beginning of the year to 7,000 and 8,000 pesos per bag, and since it is not declared as a fuel, authorities cannot intervene in the market.
The Seremi of Energy of Los Lagos, Andrés Niklitschek, stated regarding this situation: "...the pellet market is a private market. That is, the State cannot define how much is produced, how it is sold, or the price. However, the Ministry of Energy has asked pellet companies to report on stock status to keep the scenario fully monitored and, in turn, inform the public."
The authority added that currently in the commune of La Unión, Los Ríos Region, the Chilepanel plant is about 80% complete and is in trial operation. It projects an annual production of 120 thousand tons of pellet and is about to begin operations to strengthen supply in the Los Lagos Region.
Source:El Heraldo Austral
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a comment