Letter from Latin America: Wider woes fail to derail Argentine shale

Battered by multiple economic headaches, Argentina is looking towards the Vaca Muerta as a potential lifeline

Argentina is passing through a moment of historic uncertainty both politically and economically. Despite this, the Vaca Muerta continues to grow in terms of investment and production. The shale play’s importance for Argentina has increased, especially considering the rest of the macroeconomic indicators that weigh heavy on South America’s second-largest economy. And Vaca Muerta’s importance may be the only thing on which all candidates in the upcoming presidential election can agree. With the Nestor Kirchner pipeline coming online, the country will begin to neutralise any lingering doubts as to the ultimate monetisation strategy for its vast reserves of gas.  But overall, the current picture