HIDROCARBUROS DECRETO N° 690 Privatization of filling, transport, marketing and distribution of liquefied gas.

Bs. As., 27/3/81

VISTO Law No. 17.319, and

CONSIDERING:

That the Presidential Directorate of 26 April 1979 provided for the adoption of measures that would be accessible for the privatization of activities related to the import, conduct, processing and marketing of liquefied gas.

That the private sector is currently in a position to meet household and industrial consumption of liquefied gas and make the investments necessary for the efficient attention of the aforementioned markets.

That consequently, in compliance with the principle of subsidiarity that inspires the current economic policy, it is considered feasible to privatize the activities of filling, transport, marketing and distribution of liquefied gas to the effect of Article 6° "in fine" of Law No. 17.319 of the aforementioned legal body.

Therefore,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARGENTINA NATION

RIGHT:

Article 1 . The activities of production, transport, storage, distribution and marketing of liquefied gas (propanobutano) will be governed by the provisions of this decree.

Art. 2o . The production of liquefied gas for use as domestic or industrial fuel shall be sold by the producers to Gas of the State Society for the hundred and eighty (180) days after the date of publication of this Decree. This term may be extended for a single time by an additional one hundred and eighty (180) days by resolution of the Secretary of State for Energy.

Art. 3o El The price of the sale of liquefied gas during the period established in the preceding article and its extension shall be set by resolution of the Secretary of State for Energy.

Art. 4o . The operations of filling, transport, marketing and distribution of liquefied gas (propano-butano) packed in cylinders, of forty-five (45) kilograms may be carried out by private companies from the thirtieth (30) day after the publication of this decree.

Companies undertaking any of the above-mentioned activities shall be subject to compliance with the existing rules or that are in effect determined.

Art. 5o Gas Gas of the State Society of the State will cease operations of filling, transport, distribution and marketing of liquefied gas (propanobutane) packed in cylinders of forty-five (45) kilograms within the three hundred sixty (360) days of the publication of this decree.

In those cases where before the date indicated private companies provide the cylinders with liquefied gas to seventy-five (75) percent of the customers that Gas from the State Society attends on each unit computer plant, this company will disabling the plants and offices dedicated to that service.

Art. 6th . Within three hundred sixty (360) days of the publication of this decree, Gas of the State Society of the State shall proceed to the sale or dismantling and sale, as appropriate, of all the properties and facilities affected to the operations of fractionation, filling, distribution and marketing of liquefied gas in tubes of forty-five (45) kilograms.

Art. 7o . From the one hundred and twenty (120) days of the publication of the present decree Gas of the State Society of the State will not accept new requests for the provision of the house service of packed gas.

Art. 8o . Before 31 December 1981, Gas of the State Society of the State shall agree with the provinces, municipalities or agencies designated for this purpose, the transfer of the powers of habilitation, control, and inspection of the house installations or of the plants of fractionation, packaging and distribution, as well as the granting of the registrations of installer. The above-mentioned conventions shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for Energy.

Art. 9th . Communicate, publish, give to the National Directorate of the Official Register and archvese.

VIDELA

José A. Martínez de Hoz