YPF Details $51 Billion Argentina LNG Hub

YPF presented the technical and environmental details of its Neuquen Industrial Complex on 10 September in Plaza Huincul. The project forms a central part of Argentina LNG, an integrated initiative developed alongside Italian energy firm ENI and XRG, the international unit of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

The Argentina LNG venture entails an estimated total investment of $51 billion over 20 years. According to estimates by Horacio Marin, the development could generate over $55 billion, with projected annual exports of roughly $10 billion across two decades.

The complex will cover 525 hectares located 23 kilometres north of Plaza Huincul and 50 kilometres south of Anelo. The Integrated Gas Treatment Project will occupy 54.9 hectares, supported by a 15.4-hectare flare area and 120 hectares for temporary construction facilities. Upstream operations will involve drilling and completing approximately 1,400 wells across dedicated non-conventional blocks, representing 64% of all horizontal wells drilled by YPF to date.

Water logistics include a four-hectare intake facility on the Neuquen River and a 15.8-kilometre, 20-inch pipeline. YPF scheduled the final investment decision for the fourth quarter of 2026. The initial phase targets an annual liquefaction capacity of 12 million metric tons through two floating units, with the first unit slated to start in 2030 and the second in 2031.