A tanker with 71,000 m³ of crude oil from the Neuquén Basin was sent to the United States using a new pipeline. The export was carried out from Posta de Inflamables No. 3 in Puerto Galván, using the logistics system of the Bahía Blanca Refinery, and the recently inaugurated Oleoducto Derivación by Trafigura. The central aspect of this operation was the use of this new pipeline, a strategic investment made by Trafigura in conjunction with Oldelval, which allows for a direct connection of the trunk system with Posta de Inflamables No. 3 in Puerto Galván, eliminating operational restrictions and optimizing operational capacity. A qualitative leap: speed and efficiency Thanks to this new installation, the loading operation was made more efficient through the direct connection with Oldelval's trunk pipeline. The loading of the VS Pride - a 228-meter-long vessel - and the synergy with the Derivación allowed the Bahía Blanca Refinery, in coordination with the Puerto Rosales consortium, to maximize logistical efficiency, directly connecting the production of the Neuquén Basin with the international market. This operation consolidates Trafigura as a strategic logistics option for oil from Vaca Muerta, demonstrating that investments in transport infrastructure are the key to scaling the region's export profile. The pipeline was inaugurated at the beginning of last November, constituting a strategic channel for the country's crude oil transport system, improving the operational flexibility and export capacity of the Neuquén Basin. The new pipeline, 14 inches in diameter and 11 kilometers long, connects Oldelval's Allen–Puerto Rosales trunk system with the Bahía Blanca Refinery. The project required an investment of over 30 million dollars and was executed to the highest standards of quality, safety, and the environment. The Trafigura Group also comprises industrial assets and operational businesses, including the non-ferrous metals producer Nyrstar, the fuel storage and distribution company Puma Energy, the joint venture Impala Terminals, and Greenergy, a supplier and distributor of transport fuels and biofuels.
