News of oil

Argentina backs Trump’s plan to ‘run’ Venezuela, downplays call for elections

07-01-2026 17:31 Casa Rosada accepts that elements of Maduro regime will remain in place in Venezuela and do not view calls for free elections as viable; Milei, who has cooled on Machado’s potential leadership of nation, will back Trump’s intervention in upcoming Davos speech.

United States says it will control Venezuela oil exports indefinitely

07-01-2026 17:06 Trump administration plans to control future sales of Venezuelan oil and hold the proceeds in US accounts.

YPF and partners secure Chile export route for Vaca Muerta shale oil

05-12-2025 17:51 YPF, Shell, Equinor and Vista to export shale oil to Chile through 2033; Deal foresees up to 70,000 bpd initially and could generate US$12 billion in export revenue, companies say.

Milei signs deal with Chubut to scrap export duties on conventional oil

20-11-2025 16:50 National government and Chubut Province sign agreement to eliminate export duties on conventional crude oil; Province will revise royalties and companies will maintain their investments.

Multinationals leaving – why Argentina is still not appealing for investors

07-11-2025 18:46 HSBC, Carrefour and an 'Argentinised' Vaca Muerta. To date under the Javier Milei administration to date, high-profile multinationals have decided to go or are looking for a way out. Structural reasons above a promise of investments, which have not yet arrived.

by Eugenia Muzio

Vaca Muerta overtakes agriculture – and it will finance Argentina’s future

20-09-2025 06:21 The political weight of the oil industry is surging. With a record energy export surplus and rising, the Vaca Muerta formation is shaping up to be the country’s main source of foreign currency. Businessmen, governors and lawmakers all agree that shale deposits will be a major factor in economic stability, with investments and projects transforming the map.

by Carlos Burgueño

The (wrong?) assumption that energy and mining will save Argentina

09-08-2025 06:35 President Javier Milei’s economic programme relies heavily on the prospects of Argentina massively increasing its exports in the coming years. But projections work better on paper than in reality.

by Marcelo J. García

Drilling to slow in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale, YPF CEO says

06-08-2025 16:17 Oil-drilling activity in the Vaca Muerta shale patch is set to weaken in the near term as companies restrain spending.

Argentina moves to appeal US judge’s order to cede YPF stake

10-07-2025 12:41 Government gives notice it will appeal ruling requiring it to hand over controlling stake in state energy company YPF to help satisfy a US$16-billion judgement.

President Milei hosts India PM Narendra Modi at Casa Rosada

05-07-2025 13:31 Second meeting between two national leaders after G20 talks last year; India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, is a key export destination for Argentina.

Investors see way for Milei to end fight over YPF

03-07-2025 16:43 Could there be a silver lining for Javier Milei in the multibillion-dollar US judgment targeting Argentina’s main oil producer?

Milei vows appeal amid fallout as US judge orders transfer of YPF shares

01-07-2025 11:12 President vows to appeal as US judge orders Argentina to hand over 51% of shares in YPF in expropriation case; Milei points finger at Kicillof, Fernández de Kirchner as fears over ruling impact grow.

Vista buys Petronas’ Argentina oil stake in US$1.5-billion deal

16-04-2025 12:25 Deal all but cements exit of Malaysia’s Petronas; It’s also a sign that development of Vaca Muerta will increasingly be spearheaded by homegrown drillers.

PAE confirms shale gas reserves in Chubut Province

15-04-2025 16:51 Pan American Energy to invest US$250 million in project to exploit shale gas findings in Cerro Dragon field, says Chubut Governor Ignacio Torres.

Argentina LNG export project gathers backing from shale drillers

04-12-2024 13:18 Argentina has a plan to export liquefied natural gas, with drillers in shale patches now signed to supply fuel. This would be a US$3-billion liquefaction project.

Burford open to Argentine bonds for US$16-billion judgement

08-11-2024 19:36 Burford Capital, which won a US$16-billion judgement against Argentina over its nationalisation of energy firm YPF SA more than a decade ago are open to receiving payment in bonds instead of cash.

Oil workers strike after death after Vaca Muerta drilling field

09-10-2024 11:20 Vista Energy reports death of Miguel Fernández, 40, following an accident at Bajada del Palo Oeste field at Vaca Muerta formation; Unionised workers stage protest as they demand “no for more deaths” and call for more investment in safety.

YPF eyes sale of lithium unit as focus narrows on shale ramp-up

31-08-2024 17:12 State-run oil company YPF SA is considering a sale of its lithium unit as part of a sweeping divestment strategy to streamline investments into Vaca Muerta shale patch.

Looking North but also South

03-08-2024 14:23 While the post-electoral turmoil in Venezuela overshadowed any domestic agenda, this editorial will also view the week’s one clear decision – the choice of Río Negro over Buenos Aires Province as the location of the plant to convert Vaca Muerta shale into liquefied natural gas.

YPF in talks with energy transfer to fund Argentina pipeline

20-07-2024 18:12 Argentine crude driller YPF SA has held talks with US pipeline company Energy Transfer LP to finance a cross-country pipeline that could ramp up shale oil exports.