TRANSCONOR

completed

Summary Of Project Information (SPI)Project NameArgentina - Transportadora de Gas del Norte (Transconor)RegionLatin America and CaribbeanSectorProject No007024Projected Board DateOctober 30, 1995Company NameTransportadora de Gas del Norte S.A.Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders Nova Corporation (NOVA), which is also the technical partner Techint S.A.C.I. Companía General de Combustibles (CGC) Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas)Project Cost Including proposed IFC investment US$337 millionLocation of project and Description of site Transconor’s gas pipeline is generally large-diameter buried steel pipe which transports gas for long distances and in large volumes at a pressure of 20 to 70 kilograms per square centimeter, or “high pressure”. Transconor transports gas through two main gas pipelines, the Norte and Centro-Oeste, and several branches such as the Mendoza and Santa Fe lines. The 2,796 km Norte line runs roughly north to south from Campo Durán, near the border beteen Argentina and Bolivia, to Buenos Aires, where it connects with Transcosur’s high pressure transportation ring. The 1,610 km Centro-Oeste line has two branches, one that runs from Neuquén in the center-west region of Argentina to the San Jerónimo junction in Santa Fe, where it joins with the Norte pipeline, and one that runs from San Luis Province to Mendoza Province.Description of Company and Purpose of Project The Project represents the modernization and expansion of the Transconor gas transportation system, including the remaining three years (1995-1997) of the first five year plan of the Company’s capital expenditure program. The Project is expected to increase capacity of Transconor’s system by 7.9 million cubic meters per day and increase efficiency and reliability. Transconor, which began operations on December 28, 1992, has a 35-year license to operate a gas transportation system comprising approximately 4,406 kilometers of pipelines and 14 compressor stations in northern and central Argentina. Current capacity of the transportation system is approximately 29.5 million cubic meters per day.Environmental Category and Issues This is an environmental review category B project; principal issues are air emissions, liquid effluents, disposal of waste residues, spill prevention, emergency response planning and employee exposure to hazardous substances. The sponsor is making significant progress in implementing a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) based on the findings of an Environmental, Health and Safety audit which was conducted by an independent consultant. The sponsor has completed the operational aspects of the CAP, including employee training, the recycling of waste oils, elimination of burn pits, and the establishment of spill prevention and emergency response plans.The is October 23, 1995 from the Public Information Center.Date SPI sent to PIC October 6, 1995For Additional Information contact: Corporate Relations Unit -telephone: (202) 473-7711facsimile: (202) 676-0365Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).