Natural gas production in Argentina fell by 14.1% year/year in August to 124.1 million cubic meters/day (MMm3/d), or 4.38 Bcf/d, according to the latest report by the IAE Argentine Energy Institute.

Production was down from 4.47 Bcf/d in July. 

Analysts attributed the drop to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. Argentina has had one of the strictest lockdowns in place globally since the pandemic began to spread in March, and the country continues to struggle with rising coronavirus infections. 

Power demand on Argentina’s national grid dropped 6% year/year to 346 GWh/d in August, compared to 369.7 GWh/d in the year-ago period.

Thermal power, principally natural gas-fired, has accounted for 60.6% of total power demand on the national grid this year...