In less than 24 hours, Iran struck Ras Laffan twice — the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export complex before the conflict — and hit refineries in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The benchmark crude price is trading at levels not seen since 2022. For Argentina, the equation has two sides, and neither is neutral.
Since the United States and Israel struck Iran on Feb. 28, the Strait of Hormuz has entered an active crisis. Brent crude has risen above $100 a barrel for the first time in four years, the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market has been shaken, and fertilizer prices have already increased by as much as 35%. Argentina is playing on both sides of the field.
Horacio Marín worked the margins of the event in New York with bilateral meetings aimed at structuring what several banks already position as the largest project finance deal in Latin America. JPMorgan Chase is acting as adviser and has already begun outreach to more than 200 financial institutions worldwide. The final investment decision (FID) is targeted for the second half of 2026.
It is the biggest LNG supply shock since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In that scenario, Argentina has the right answer — but it still does not have the ship
Associated gas — the gas that inevitably emerges as a byproduct of oil production in the black oil and liquids-rich window of the Neuquén formation — is rich in high-value components. In January, output climbed to 26.7 million cubic meters per day, setting a historic record. The industry is closely monitoring the trend, as it could open the door to a new business opportunity.
The swap with Pluspetrol could act as a catalyst to unlock the project, where key players have already begun positioning themselves. By consolidating control over high-density gas areas, YPF is building the stable, large-scale supply base needed to make a megaproject like Argentina LNG financially viable.
Innovative solutions use energy-saving algorithms that evaluate the time of day, natural lighting and the total load on the power grid, ensuring stadiums operate at maximum efficiency regardless of the
YPF and Pluspetrol sealed a cashless asset swap that will allow the state-controlled oil company to consolidate full control of three key areas in Vaca Muerta, while the private firm repositions itself in high-potential blocks through Vaca Muerta Inversiones.
The memorandum acts as a kind of “local RIGI,” setting out clear conditions and long-term commitments for executing the project within provincial territory.
It became one of the first 35 facilities, out of the Swiss multinational’s 170 worldwide, to obtain the certification.
According to the research compiled in Energy Insights 2025, the annual report from the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, Argentina’s LNG development is moving toward a floating LNG (FLNG) model due to financial constraints.
Argentina LNG was the main topic that drew more than 60 representatives from Japan’s energy sector to a recent webinar organized by the Argentine Embassy in Japan.
Horacio Marín told Shale24 that the U.S. giant will lead the project finance for the priority 12-MTPA phase once the binding agreement with ADNOC is signed. The FID would be taken in mid-2026, and exports would begin in 2030–31.
It is the largest LNG sales operation from Argentina in terms of both volume and duration. The agreement was signed by Rodolfo Freyre of Southern Energy South America (SESA) and Frédéric Barnaud of Germany’s SEFE. The deal further strengthens Vaca Muerta’s position as an international player.
The oil company led by Horacio Marín signed an agreement with Italy’s Eni to jointly explore Block OFF-5, which spans 17,000 square kilometers and reaches a maximum water depth of 4,100 meters.
