Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A.(TGS) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The total net income for Q3 2025 was ARS 112 billion, up from ARS 68.8 billion in Q3 2024, primarily driven by improved performance in the liquids business and midstream segment [6][8] - EBITDA for natural gas transportation decreased to ARS 102.4 billion from nearly ARS 113 billion in Q3 2024, attributed to insufficient tariff adjustments to offset inflation [7][8] - Liquids segment EBITDA tripled to ARS 55.2 billion in Q3 2025 from ARS 18.2 billion in Q3 2024, driven by increased export volumes and higher prices [8][9] - Cash position increased by 22% to ARS 875 billion, approximately $638 million at the official exchange rate [12][13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Natural gas transportation EBITDA declined by ARS 10.5 billion due to tariff adjustments and rising operating expenses [7][8] - Liquids segment saw a significant increase in EBITDA, primarily due to higher export volumes and favorable pricing conditions [9][10] - Midstream and other services EBITDA rose to ARS 61.2 billion from ARS 46.7 billion in Q3 2024, driven by increased billable volumes of natural gas transported [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average transported natural gas billable volume increased from 29 million cubic meters per day in Q3 2024 to 32 million cubic meters per day in Q3 2025 [11] - The natural gas price increased from $3.1 to $3.4 per million BTU, negatively impacting EBITDA by ARS 4.3 billion [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - TGS plans to invest $560 million to expand the Perito Moreno pipeline's capacity and an additional $220 million for regulated pipelines between Saliceto and Greater Buenos Aires [4][5] - The company aims to commercialize the incremental capacity and collect a dollar-denominated unregulated tariff during the 15-year operational period [5] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the current high levels of production and margins in the liquids business may not be sustainable into Q4 2025 due to seasonal variations [21][22] - The company anticipates that international liquid prices may be lower in 2026 compared to the average of the current year [22] Other Important Information - The company is working on a project to build a new gas pipeline towards LNG facilities planned by CESA Southern Energy, with no immediate updates on participation [27] - The expected recovery amount from the insurance claim related to the Complejo Cerri event is estimated to exceed $50 million, with partial collection expected this year [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Breakdown of the $780 million capex for the transportation system expansion - Management indicated that $150 million will be spent this year, $450 million in 2026, and the remaining $27 million in the first five months of 2027 [17] Question: Status of the insurance claim for Complejo Cerri - The expected recovery amount is over $50 million, with $10 million anticipated this year and the remainder next year [19] Question: Sustainability of current production and margins in the liquids business - Management stated that while current production levels are extraordinary, they may not be sustainable into Q4 due to seasonal factors [21][22] Question: Acceleration of cash capex deployment until year-end - Management confirmed that cash capex is expected to be higher than previous levels, particularly in the last quarter of the year [24] Question: Expected income tax payments in the next quarter - Income tax payments in Q4 are expected to be similar to those in Q3 [28] Question: FID for the NGL fractionation facility - Management is working hard on the project, with FID expected in the first quarter of next year [29] Question: Participation in the NGL project with partners - The company is looking to have partners in the liquids project, particularly for transportation and fractionation facilities [31]