Vaca Muerta Boom Needs Investments Worth More Than a Year of Its Exports to Expand – Clarín | 09/08/26

Vaca Muerta’s growth currently faces infrastructure as its main bottleneck, after the expansion of pipelines, gas infrastructure and other projects helped increase production and reshape Argentina’s energy-related foreign trade in recent years. According to a BBVA Research report, between US$15 billion and US$20 billion in infrastructure investment is needed, an amount exceeding one year of the formation’s current investment and exports, while Argentina’s energy exports are expected to reach around US$14 billion in 2026. BBVA identifies three key pillars for this development: the expansion of oil pipelines toward the Atlantic, modular liquefaction plants and deep-water ports, with projects already underway led by companies including YPF, PAE, Vista and Pampa Energía to expand export capacity and reduce the impact of freight costs. YPF also estimates around US$130 billion in investment over the next five years, mainly for drilling wells, while new production projects are being accompanied by company-led infrastructure investments through the RIGI incentive regime. This expansion is also creating demand for road infrastructure, employment, suppliers and strategic inputs such as cement. The oil sector estimates that by 2030 Vaca Muerta could generate almost as many dollars as Argentina’s agricultural sector, helping reduce the country’s economic risks and interest rates, although BBVA warns that there is a limited window to scale up export projects due to the global transition toward cleaner energy. Link to Article