The Government called for calm in the face of the shortage of pellets in Osorno, which has caused long lines for their purchase in different places in the city. Passing through the area, the minister spokesperson for La Moneda, Camila Vallejo, ruled out a shortage.
The Chilean Biomass Association confirmed a decrease of 18% in the production of pellet, due to a contraction in the wood industry.
This has caused long lines of people in different commercial premises in Osorno.
The waits occur in the midst of low temperatures that they intend to face later at home with their pellet stoves, where complaints point to a stock break and price readjustment.
In Osorno, the issue is intertwined with a decontamination plan to reduce smoke from the use of firewood, and where the Government promotes a replacement to pellet heaters.
However, this measure has been questioned by the population.
Minister Vallejo rules out pellet shortages
During his time in Osorno, the Government spokeswoman, Camila Vallejo, called for calm ensuring that there is no shortage of this biofuel.
“There is stock, that is also important to say, so that the call for calm allows us to consume responsibly and avoid hoarding,” he said.
Although the minister announced inspections by the seremis of Environment and Energy, this would have no concrete effects.
The latter, due to the fact that there is no Law on Solid Biofuels and, therefore, there is no regulatory framework either.
Pellet production fell by 18%
From the Chilean Biomass Association, that brings together 15 pellet producers that corresponds to 95% of the national distribution, its manager, Antonio Minte, accused a shortage of raw material, which reduced the normal supply by 18%.
The executive clarified that production is not stopped and should be resolved by mid-August with the search for new alternatives.
In any case, Minte assured that what cannot happen is speculation.
At the national level, Los Lagos is the region with the highest pellet sales at the national level.
The Ministry of Energy indicated that 8% of urban homes in this territory use this biofuel, with an average of 1,583 kilos annually, according to the report prepared by the Forestry Institute.