The construction of the Vaca Muerta Sur pipeline, a project of more than 3 billion dollars that will connect the Vaca Muerta formation in Neuquén with the marine terminal of Punta Colorada in Río Negro, is considered one of the most important in decades in Argentina. With the first pipes installed and the start of the second section planned for the first half of 2025, the pipeline is expected to generate up to 20 billion dollars a year in exports for the country, being a crucial pillar for its energy and economic development.
The terminal in Punta Colorada, equipped with single point moorings for large vessels, will not only reduce logistical costs but also consolidate Río Negro as a strategic point for oil export in South America. According to the Secretary of Energy and Environment, Andrea Confini, this infrastructure will not only improve the transportation capacity of Vaca Muerta but will also position Río Negro as a key player in the global energy market.
In this project, YPF has formed an alliance with Pan American Energy, Vista Energy, Pampa Energía, Chevron Argentina, Pluspetrol, and Shell Argentina to finance and construct the pipeline. Currently, the first section connecting the Loma Campana area in Neuquén with the Allen Pumping Station in Río Negro is being completed, while preliminary tasks for the second section, which will take the crude oil to Punta Colorada, have also begun.
The Vaca Muerta Sur pipeline, with a length of 600 kilometers, will have the capacity to transport up to 550 thousand barrels of oil daily, with the possibility of expanding to more than 700 thousand barrels per day. This strategic project for national energy development is currently underway, reinforcing control capabilities in midstream activity to ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards from the outset.
VMOS, the corporation created to operate the pipeline, was registered in the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), marking a milestone in promoting energy infrastructure projects in Argentina. Confini emphasized that Río Negro was the first province to adhere to this tool, which not only consolidates significant investments but also highlights the active role of the Provincial State in supervising the works.
