It will have a capacity of 360,000 barrels per day
In a key step for Argentina’s hydrocarbon development, the Environment and Climate Change Secretariat of Río Negro, a province in northern Patagonia, has called a public hearing for Dec. 18 to discuss a major oil pipeline expansion proposed by Oleoductos del Valle S.A. (Oldelval), the country’s main crude transport operator.
The project, known as the “Oleoducto Duplicar Norte,” aims to boost crude oil transport from the Vaca Muerta formation through an estimated $400 million investment that could inject new economic momentum into the region. The project involves building a 24-inch-diameter, 207-kilometer (128-mile) parallel pipeline connecting the Puesto Hernández oil field—near Rincón de los Sauces, in Neuquén—to the pumping station in Allen, crossing northern Río Negro.
The expansion will increase transport capacity by 220,000 additional barrels per day, bringing the total to 360,000 barrels. The project responds to the Neuquén Basin’s production boom and seeks to ease bottlenecks in the flow of shale oil to refineries and export ports.
Provincial oversight and operations
Oldelval, controlled by YPF and Pampa Energía, confirmed that construction will begin in November this year, following a schedule that prioritizes operational sustainability and community engagement.
The hearing, set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Secretariat of Energy and Environment in Cipolletti (at the corner of Los Sauces and Los Arrayanes), will be held under Provincial Laws 3,266 and 3,284. While it does not create binding obligations, it will serve as a platform for residents, NGOs and experts to raise concerns about potential environmental risks, including ecosystem fragmentation and waste management during construction.
“This forum strengthens environmental governance by incorporating diverse perspectives to balance energy progress with territorial protection,” sources from the Secretariat said.
The province will oversee every stage of the project to ensure compliance with protocols that minimize long-term impacts.