While it is true that natural gas and propane gas have similar uses in cooking and are used as a source of energy, these differ in their way of extraction, distribution and storage.
Before the 2000s, it was common to find in most cities the gas cylinder connected to the stove to carry out any preparation for domestic use, however, and gradually, The houses in Colombia were adopting the pipe system, due to the facilities and agreements of the municipalities with the natural GAS companies.
Nevertheless, there are those who still make use of the cylinder or firewood to cook their foodsince they do not have the necessary connections for their home to be provided with methane gas.
(You may be interested in: How can you cook without methane gas? Learn about some stove alternatives).
43% of Colombian households lack this service, especially in departments such as Boyacá, Nariño and Santander, according to the latest report from Naturgas, the organization that encourages the development of the natural gas market in the country.
natural gas
This fossil fuel is composed mainly of methane and small amounts of other gases such as ethane, propane and butane. Properties that determine it as one of the cleanest energy sourcesif compared with the extraction of other fuels such as oil or coal, which produce higher polluting emissions.
(Keep reading: Vanti: where to pay the gas bill after the due date?).
Natural gas occurs naturally in underground reservoirs, including large offshore deposits. According to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition of Spain, «this product comes from the degradation of organic matter and is extracted from formations that can be found on top of oil fields or in reserves independent and isolated from other raw materials».
This non-renewable resource has several implementations in the electricity sector, industrial production, residential consumption or the use of vehicle fuels.
propane gas
For his part, Propane is a hydrocarbon that is obtained as a by-product of the oil refining process or even natural gas itself, so this becomes a more harmful option for the environment, according to the National Hydrocarbons Agency -ANH-.
(Read also: This is the complete and updated periodic table of elements).
LPG or liquefied propane gas is heavier and can be concentrated during a leak, due to its mixture of butane and propylene, which is generally distributed through 20-kilo tanks or cylinders, but that depends on their size, as they can be large or small.
The fuel can also be used at home for cooking food, water heaters, and energy sources such as heating equipment, refrigerators, washing machines and even transportation, according to the Colombian LPG Association, GASNOVA.
NATHALIA GOMEZ PARRA
DIGITAL SCOPE WRITING
TIME