Natural gas production in Argentina decreased by 10% year/year in June to 126 million cubic meters/day (MMm3/d), or 4.45 Bcf/d, according to the latest report by the IAE Argentine Energy Institute.

Analysts attributed the drop to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic and “a level of demand notably different from the same month last year.” Argentina has had one of the strictest lockdowns in place globally since the pandemic began to spread in March. 

June’s production was up marginally from May, when production was 4.39 Bcf/d.

Electric power demand in Argentina rose by 1% in June to 358.3 GWh/d. Thermoelectric power, principally from natural gas, has accounted for 62% of power generation in 2020, according to the report.

So far in 2020, the...