Camisea Gas Project

The Camisea Gas Project extracts natural gas originating near the Urubamba River in central Peru.

Location

The main pipeline begins at the Camisea Gas Field in the Amazon Rainforest, traverses through the steep Andes mountains, and terminates within the Paracas National Reservation near San Martin, the port of Pisco. A second pipeline runs from near Pisco north along the coast to Lima for distribution to residents and industries in the capital city. In April 2007, Suez Energy and Kuntur Gas Transport unveiled rival proposals for pipelines to carry Camisea gas to southern Peru. [Reuters, [http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSN1048397220080410 "Companies propose pipelines in southern Peru"] . April 10, 2008. Retrieved on April 12, 2008.]

History

The Camisea gas project had been planned for many years but was finally executed under the government of President Alejandro Toledo; it became operational in August 2004. It promises to bring great economic benefit to Peru, especially when natural gas is exported. The use of natural gas in Peru would also be a more environmentally-friendly alternative to petroleum-based diesel and coal.Facts|date=May 2007

Controversy

As of March 2006 there have already been 5 spills along the pipeline. The latest one occurred on March 4, 2006 , resulting in three injuries [El Comercio, [http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe/EdicionOnline/Html/2006-03-05/onlPortada0467113.html "Piden auditoría internacional para gasoducto de Camisea"] . March 3, 2006.] According to E-Tech International of San Diego, California, at least 40 percent of the pipes used during construction of the Camisea Gas Project were left over from other projects and suffered from substantial corrosion.

Construction operations in the Amazon rainforest have allegedly reduced fish stocks and brought disease to formerly isolated indigenous communities, such as the Machiguenga.

References

External links

* [http://www.camisea.com.pe "Camisea home page"]
* [http://www.iadb.org/exr/pic/camisea/camisea.cfm "Inter-American Development Bank"]
* [http://www.amazonwatch.org/amazon/PE/camisea "Amazon Watch"]