* Technical issues in a Colombian gas pipeline have resulted in widespread shortages of gas in the country’s south-west, with local media reporting that over 1m citizens may be affected. The shortages prompted Colombia’s association of public service companies (Andesco) to call for the “rational use of natural gas by those who still have the service” and encourage users to consider alternative fuels. In a series of statements released on Twitter Colombian gas transportation company Transportadora de Gas Internacional (TGI) has said that it is “committed to enabling options to bring gas to users”. In one announcement from 20 May TGI stated that it had detected an increase in temperature on 19 May of more than 600 degrees Celsius in the Mariquita-Cali gas pipeline, resulting in the suspension of gas. This phenomenon has since been referred to by TGI as a “thermic anomaly”. On 23 May TGI reiterated that it continues to assess the infrastructure of the pipeline as well as proceed with the construction and laying of new, flexible pipelines to transport gas. TGI predicted that these works will take at least seven days.
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