South American Cold Underscores Role of Oil and Gas
9 hours ago Guest Blogger 8 Comments
By Vijay Jayaraj
In July, a bone-chilling cold wave swept across South America, plunging nations like Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay into an energy crisis that laid bare the fragility of their power systems. Record-low temperatures, driven by an Antarctic air mass, pushed electricity grids to the brink, forced governments to ration gas, and left thousands without power for over a day.
This brutal winter exposed a stark truth: South America’s energy infrastructure, strained by poverty and uneven development, cannot afford to gamble on unreliable sources like wind and solar. For nations striving to lift millions out of poverty by boosting economic growth, abundant oil and gas offer the only practical path to surviving harsh winters and securing a prosperous future.
Grip of Antarctic Cold
Snow blanketed Mar del Plata, Argentina, for the first time in 34 years, while the Atacama Desert, the world’s driest region, saw rare snowfall. Buenos Aires shivered at minus 1.9 degrees Celsius – the city’s coldest since 1991. Suburbs like El Palomar dropped to minus 7.4 degrees Celsius for the first time in decades. On June 30, Chile and Argentina ranked among the planet’s coldest spots outside polar regions.
The sudden, massive demand for electricity and heating fuel was entirely predictable for such weather. Yet, the system could not cope. Widespread power cuts rolled across the region, leaving thousands of households without electricity for more than 24 hours. Imagine the discomfort – even terror – of a family huddled together in freezing temperatures as the lights go out, unsure of when warmth and safety would return.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/08/07/south-american-cold-underscores-role-of-oil-and-gas/
