ANRE (the energy market regulator) has approved for the month of April a gas import quota of 30%, in order to cover the total consumption estimated at 11.8 million MWh. Demand on the regulated market (population and small companies) is roughly 3,5 million MWh, and demand from eligible consumers is 3.1 million MWh. Interruptible consumers (those whose operations can be interrupted at any time in order to prioritize supply gas to the population) have requested 3.7 million MWh, and technological consumption is estimated at 1.3 million MWh.
April is the fourth straight month when the imports quota is set at around 30%, as the major interruptible consumers will only be allowed to buy domestically produced gas until October 2010.