The exploitation of hydrocarbons in Neuquén is no longer just about energy. From the explosive growth of Añelo to the productive reconversion in the Alto Valle and new logistic routes with Entre Ríos, Vaca Muerta is generating a chain reaction that is transforming infrastructure and commerce across multiple provinces, promising a brighter economic future for the region.

Argentina's energy epicenter, Vaca Muerta (one of the world's largest shale oil and gas deposits), is acting as an economic engine that transcends the mere extraction of resources. In the town of Añelo, the impact is tangible: the small settlement has transformed into an urban hub with accelerated infrastructure, including new hotels, housing, and the arrival of major financial institutions like Banco Galicia and Supervielle, as well as commercial giants like La Anónima.

Key Insight: Añelo currently hosts the YPF (Argentina's state-owned energy company) service station with the highest daily fuel sales volume in the entire country.

Logistic and Productive Synergy

This energy development is creating a "diffusion effect" that connects distant regions. A landmark case is the strategic alliance between Neuquén (the Patagonian province where the shale is located) and Entre Ríos (a province in the Mesopotamia region) for the supply of sand, a critical component for fracking (the hydraulic fracturing process used to extract gas and oil from shale rock).

To optimize this flow and prevent the collapse of land routes, the Governor of Entre Ríos, Rogelio Frigerio, and the President of YPF, Horacio Marín, are reportedly working on a multimodal transport scheme:

  • River-Sea Traffic: Departures from Diamante or Ibicuy toward Bahía Blanca or San Antonio Oeste.
  • Rail Transport: Final transfer from the ports to the Neuquén basin.

Impact on Agriculture and Industry

The influence of Vaca Muerta extends to the countryside, modifying the productive matrix of the region and the nation:

Sector Vaca Muerta's Impact
Fertilizers Natural gas serves as the fundamental raw material for urea plants.
Livestock Increase in intensive livestock farming in the Alto Valle (the fertile valley of the Neuquén river) for local consumption.
Fruit Growing Reconversion of fruit producers toward cattle ranching to meet the rising demand.

Source: IMAGO