Gustavo Lopetegui plans an acceleration of investments in Vaca Muerta: "In the world, they are convinced that it is the best"

Far from being a mirage, Dead cow is today a reality that attracts a great interest of the major players in the international oil sector and, what is also important, also among those who can fund large infrastructure projects necessary for the Neuquén deposit to reach its maximum potential in the coming years.

He was able to check in the last days the secretary of energy Gustavo Lopeteguiwho presented to Houston, the mecca of US oil, investment opportunities in the country's oil sector for $ 30,000 million Washington meetings with officials of the US government and its investment agency abroad, with businessmen and leaders of multilateral organizations based in this capital city.

"In the world, there is no doubt" about the potential of Vaca Muerta, Lopetegui affirmed in a conversation with Infobae and other Argentine media in Washington. "I had about 30 meetings with companies from Europe, the United States and Canada, and they are all convinced that what exists is the best, that the resource is the best", said the official about the answers to his presentation before the oil tycoons in Texas.

"Vaca Muerta's investments last year were $ 4,300 million and in the rest of the energy sector about 1500 million more. With whom in 2018 they must have invested $ 6,000 million in the energy sector, "said the head of Maurcio Macri. "We think this pace will accelerate", he added.

The official goal, said Lopetegui, is that the 30,000 million needed to develop the necessary infrastructure, increase the production of hydrocarbons and generate more electric power, be invested in all four coming years. Vaca Muerta, summed up: "began to be a reality for the international world, I will tell you a year ago, nobody disputes it, quite the contrary".

The Energy Secretary met in Washington with the leaders of OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation), the US government agency that finances investment projects in emerging countries, and the United States. directors of BID Invest, the branch of the Inter-American Development Bank. funds to private projects. In both cases, he presented the infrastructure projects needed for the development of the Argentine energy sector and has found a strong interest in participating in the financing of a new gas pipeline to transport the production of Vaca Muerta to Buenos Aires and the port. . "They are super interested in participating", he said.

This project, which could be launched at the end of next month and that the government wants to see "as soon as possible" cost between 1500 and 2000 million dollars. According to the Energy Secretary, it is essential "so that we can stop importing what we import from Qatar to the Escobar factory today." The last construction of a gas pipeline in Argentina dates back to 1988, he said.

Mr. Lopetegui also met in Washington with businessmen from the Chamber of Commerce, officials of the US Treasury and the director of energy of the US National Security Council, Wells Griffiths. He ends today his tour in New York with a presentation in front of businessmen of the Council of the Americas.