Argentinian shale suffers further setbacks
The government was relying on Vaca Muerta to solve its financial problems. But another default looms as Covid-19 disrupts growth plans
Argentina’s shale industry, like its US counterpart, is facing possible financial ruin. Plunging oil prices have reduced production in the Vaca Muerta basin to a trickle, while lockdown of facility workers is further slowing operations. And the threat of widespread job losses and potential bankruptcies is disastrous timing for a government desperately needing oil revenues to stave off a ninth national default. State oil company YPF is particularly feeling the effects. The firm has been the leading driver of growth in the Vaca Muerta basin, working in collaboration with several international joint partners including Malaysian state oil firm Petronas and Chevron. Diminished physical demand, re

Also in this section
1 August 2025
A number of companies have filed arbitration claims against Gazprom over non-deliveries of contracted gas or other matters—and won. The next step is to collect the award; this is no easy task but it can be done thanks to an international legal framework under the New York Convention.
1 August 2025
Europe’s refining sector is desperately trying to adapt to a shifting global energy landscape and nowhere is this more apparent than in its largest economy
1 August 2025
The Middle East natural gas playbook is being rewritten. The fuel source offers the region a pathway to a cleaner, sustainable and affordable means of local power, to fasttrack economic development and as a lucrative opportunity to better monetise its energy resources.
31 July 2025
TotalEnergies is an outlier among other majors for remaining committed to low-carbon investments while continuing to replenish and expand its ample oil and gas portfolio, with an appetite for high risk/high return projects.