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Argentine Governors Demand Energy Tariffs and Vaca Muerta Gas Access
🇦🇷 Argentina /Energy & Infrastructure

Argentine Governors Demand Energy Tariffs and Vaca Muerta Gas Access

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Governors from Argentina's northern provinces demanded a differentiated electricity tariff for "hot zones" in exchange for supporting the repeal of "cold zone" gas tariff benefits.
  • They seek a law for differentiated tariffs, not just executive goodwill, to ensure consistent benefits.
  • Provinces also called for infrastructure projects to bring natural gas from Vaca Muerta to the north, citing production impacts.

Governors from Argentina's northern provinces have unified their demands to the national government, centering on a differentiated electricity tariff for "hot zones." This plea, voiced at the 24th Assembly of Northern Governors in Posadas, aims to secure energy cost relief for regions experiencing high temperatures.

We don't have problems with gas, because there is no gas, and I envy you Osvaldo [Jaldo] when you talk about the lack of gas: here we run on firewood like in the 19th century.

— Hugo PassalacquaThe host governor of the Northern Governors' Assembly, summarizing the energy challenges faced by northern provinces.

The governors linked their support for repealing gas tariff benefits for "cold zones" to the establishment of a legal framework for "hot zone" electricity tariffs. They expressed frustration that promised electrical subsidies, initially linked to their support for the "cold zone" gas tariff bill, have not materialized. Governor Raúl Jalil of Catamarca stressed the need for this to be enshrined in law, stating, "We want it to be by law and not left to the goodwill of someone who says 'today I recognize you, and tomorrow I don't'."

Eight provincial leaders attended the meeting, with only Gildo Insfrán of Formosa and Ricardo Quintela of La Rioja absent. The group also highlighted critical energy infrastructure needs, particularly for the northwestern provinces (NOA). They are demanding infrastructure projects, such as the North Gas Pipeline reversal plant, to ensure natural gas from the Vaca Muerta field reaches their industries.

We want it to be by law and not left to the goodwill of someone who says 'today I recognize you, and tomorrow I don't'.

— Raúl JalilExplaining the demand for a legally binding differentiated electricity tariff.

Osvaldo Jaldo, governor of Tucumán, explained that the lack of adequate gas supply from Vaca Muerta, located over 1600 kilometers south, has impacted the citrus and sugar-alcohol industries this year. Previously, these regions relied on gas imported from Bolivia.

Before, we used the gas that came from Bolivia; now we need works like the North Gas Pipeline reversal plant so that the gas from Vaca Muerta arrives.

— Osvaldo JaldoHighlighting the need for infrastructure to transport natural gas from Vaca Muerta.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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