Argentine President Javier Milei called Techint Group owner Paolo Rocca 'scrap metal man' on Tuesday, following the controversy over the tender for pipes for the Vaca Muerta gas pipeline, which the company lost to an Indian firm. Milei made the post on social media X, after Techint suggested it might proceed with an anti-dumping complaint. According to a statement by Minister of Deregulation Federico Sturzenegger on Monday, the winning company's bid was 40% lower than the one led by Rocca. Sturzenegger defended the result, citing the benefit it brings to the project's cost. Although the tender was between private companies, the displacement of the Techint group carries significant political weight. The project involves the supply of large-diameter steel pipes for a pipeline of approximately 480 to 500 kilometers, which will connect the plant in Tratayén (Neuquén) with San Antonio Este (Río Negro), forming the basis for the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project. The Indian company Welspun outbid 15 other international offers from countries such as China, Spain, Mexico, and Turkey.
