24/06/2026 03:24 - Economia
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Legislature of Neuquén Province will hold a special session to vote on a bill that would ratify the agreement signed between the provincial Executive and YPF (Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales, Argentina's state-owned energy company) for the development of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The session begins at 6:00 PM local time and is expected to continue until midnight for the final vote.
Before the legislative session, more than 30 mayors and community development commission presidents from across the province sent formal letters to the Chamber of Deputies expressing their support for the project. The list includes local leaders from both the ruling party and opposition parties.
| Key Mayors Supporting the Project |
|---|
| Mariano Gaido (Neuquén Capital - the provincial capital city) |
| Ramón Solano Rioseco (Cutral Co - an important oil town) |
| Claudio Larraza (Plaza Huincul - another key petroleum center) |
| Fernando Banderet (Añelo - located in the heart of Vaca Muerta) |
| Arturo de Gregorio (Villa Pehuenia Moquehue - a tourist destination) |
"For us, the bill that the governor is presenting to the Legislature represents a great opportunity to generate economic development, growth in Vaca Muerta (one of the world's largest shale formations), and the possibility of new investments arriving in Neuquén City and throughout the province."
Labor unions and opposition sectors have expressed their rejection of the project:
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to approximately -160°C (-260°F) to convert it into liquid form, reducing its volume by 600 times. This allows efficient transportation by specialized ships to international markets without requiring pipelines.
The project involves extracting methane gas from five unconventional areas located near the Petroleum Region: Meseta Buena Esperanza I and II, Aguada Villanueva Norte, and Las Tacanas I and II. The gas will be processed at a liquefaction plant on the Atlantic coast of Río Negro Province for export to global markets.
Context for international readers: Vaca Muerta, located in Neuquén Province, is one of the world's largest shale oil and gas formations, comparable to the Eagle Ford and Permian Basin in the United States. This project aims to position Argentina as a significant player in the global LNG market.
The general secretary of the Oil and Gas Workers' Union of Neuquén, Río Negro, and La Pampa, Marcelo Rucci, stated that LNG development represents a "historic opportunity" to expand gas production and access new international markets.
Deputy Andrés Blanco from the PTS-United Left Front questioned: "How many extra millions of dollars in profits will companies make thanks to this law? How much will the state stop collecting?" He also described the international arbitration clause as a "renunciation of sovereignty."
Next Steps: Wednesday's legislative session will determine the future of this project, which could transform the energy landscape of Neuquén Province and position this Argentine region as a key player in the international LNG market.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
