“This winter ended, but we are going to move forward with the expansion of the gas transportation system, because although we are in a complex period of elections, we in the Secretariat, and as well as in the IAPG, believe that the energy sector has to have a medium-term, strategic, consensus view,” he said when giving his speech in the Red Pavilion of the mega-exhibition in La Rural.
Present during the inauguration were the governor of Chubut, Mario Arcioniand his successor Ignacio Torres, the elected president of Río Negro, Alberto Wereltineckthe hydrocarbon ministers of Neuquén, Alejandro Monteiroand the chubutense Martin Cerdathe former Secretary of Energy, Darío Martínezbusinessmen Pablo Iuliano (YPF), Marcos Bulgheroni (PAE) and Catherine Remy (TotalEnergies), among other directors.
Royón encouraged the hydrocarbon sector to take advantage of the public and private infrastructure built in recent years for more than US$18 billion, including the Néstor Kirchner Gas Pipeline, since the use is also promoted with greater investment commitments in the country. “We have to strengthen the articulation mechanisms and guarantee the internal supply of gas and also generate exportable surpluses that can be placed in other markets to improve export performance and strengthen our position in the balances of payments,” he said.
In that framework, The official recalled that last year the energy balance was negative by almost US$4.5 billion and assured that in 2023 it will be “slightly positive” by US$100 million. “In 2024, with all the impact of the GPNK, and with the theoretically completed reversal of the North Gasduct, the Argentine energy balance will be positive by 3.8 billion dollars,” he estimated, a few hours after returning from Asunción, where he met with the Paraguayan Foreign Minister to analyze the tolls on the Paraná Waterway.
According to the official, with the works in gas, oil, hydrogen, carbon capture and renewable energy, the country can become an important player in the global energy transition, at the same time it can supply the domestic and regional market. “This is clearly an important part of solving the problems that our country’s macroeconomy has today. We have to generate the means to articulate virtuous domestic supply and export agreements and regulatory measures that also provide predictability and guarantees to the sector,” he stressed. the Secretary.
Royón admitted the “difficulties” that there have been in recent years, “today we are also going through a difficult context of a drought and extreme difficulty for our country,” but he assured that Hydrocarbons are a “key sector to achieve this macroeconomic stability that will allow Argentina’s deployment and growth.”
“Today Argentina has a clear opportunity, a real opportunity with the energy sector and with the new development sectors. We want to continue working, and thank the actors who always had a dialogue and constructive view, with whom we were able to establish throughout this year of work agreement mechanisms for the well-being of our country,” he emphasized.
During the four days of the AOG 2023 exhibition, the participation of 320 exhibitors, 20,000 visitors and 250 business rounds are expected. At La Rural you can visit more than 100 stands of the main companies in the sector, distributed over 35,000 m2. “We have more than 100 years of experience in oil and gas exploration, in working effectively,” he said. Lopez Anadon at the opening of the fair.
“We have international and national operators of all sizes. There are service companies, ferry companies, manufacturers and specialists. There are professionals, technicians and planned operators. And there is, of course, an important transportation and evacuation infrastructure,” he listed, highlighting the potential of Argentine oil&gas.
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The head of the IAPG stressed that “Today we have about 35% national content in everything that is done” in the industry and said that with more investments we can achieve more wells in activity in Vaca Muerta. “The industry already showed its potential and commitment during the pandemic, and has also done so in recent years. Despite all the needs, today we are exporting plenty of gas. Today the industry, hydrocarbons, has become a export project,” he said from the lectern.
López Anadón highlighted that in recent years increased productivity and efficiency in the construction of oil infrastructure and highlighted investments in national State infrastructure, for the construction of the first section of the Néstor Kirchner. But also, like Royón, he advocated moving forward with LNG projects to export gas. At the same time, he stressed that the plants for the export of crude oil are being expanded, and that there were important investments in the refinery. “Refineries have been converted, and today they are being modernized, to make low-carbon refineries, with what the world requires, regarding emissions and climate change problems, and they have also been converted to have products of international quality”.
When reviewing pending challenges, López Anadón said that “at the policy level, there is a lack of pointing to the future.” “We must point out that the industry, with the right conditions, is going to give much more than it is not going to give today. The entire policy agrees with the enormous potential that our hydrocarbon resources have, and how important they are, and the contribution that they can make to the activity, to employment, and also to climate change. What is substantial today is that these political forces agree on what are going to be the conditions under which the industry is going to develop. in the future, because that is the only way that, if everyone agrees, we can send a message to investors that these rules of the game will be maintained over time.
Source: Ambito
