New natural gas pipelines coming to Mérida this month
Some parts of Mérida to get residential natural gas as early as late March says energy company Engie.
Some news outlets had previously reported that Engie would only be supplying the Dondé factory near the San Damian neighborhood, but Engie representatives said this was not the case.
The company plans to develop a large distribution network capable of supplying natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial clients.
“Natural gas delivered through underground pipelines can be 30% cheaper than current delivery methods,” said Juan Carlos Hernández Colunga, development manager at Engie Mexico.
Earlier in the week, residents of Mérida’s San Damian neighborhood gathered to protest the construction of Engie natural gas lines running under their streets.
Earlier: Solution to Yucatan’s natural gas shortage remains unclear
Several homeowners in the San Damian neighborhood have set up large signs reading “No al paso del gas entubado en esta calle” — meaning, no to gas ducts on this street.
Residents expressed fear at the project, as they said the natural gas may ignite.
Engie Mexico claims that it has successfully procured all necessary permits from the city government and that its project is completely safe.
“We have installed over 12,500 kilometres of distribution lines in Mexico and serve over 600 thousand satisfied clients. We really don’t understand the objections of people in the San Damian area but are doing the best we can to address their concerns,” said Hernández Colunga.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and adventure leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.
