Peru suspends gas exports after pipeline rupture sparks energy crisis

By Marco Aquino

LIMA, March 5 (Reuters) - Peru suspended natural gas exports as it grapples with its worst energy crisis in two decades following a pipeline rupture at the country's largest gas field, Energy and Mines Minister Angelo Alfaro said on Thursday.

The halt follows a leak reported Sunday, which forced operator Transportadora de Gas del Peru (TGP) to shut down a section of the pipeline to isolate the damage.

Alfaro, speaking to Congress, said this was the most serious energy crisis in the last two decades.

"The reduction in the (gas) supply has been tremendous, brutal... only 10% is being delivered," he added.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines had declared a 14-day emergency for the national pipeline network to prioritize supplies for residential, commercial, and essential services while repairs are underway.

TGP also had implemented temporary restrictions on gas supplies to industrial and electricity sector users while it repairs the leak.

Energy firm Pluspetrol suspended production of liquefied petroleum gas on Wednesday after the outage cut the flow of natural gas to its Pisco fractionation plant.

The facility supplies approximately 70% of Peru's LPG consumption, according to company data.