La Pampa to charge tolls on trucks heading to Vaca Muerta, Bahía Blanca

The province of La Pampa is preparing to levy tolls on its roads for heavy trucks carrying essential materials, a move aimed at recouping maintenance costs. Governor Sergio Ziliotto will propose legislation to charge trucks transporting sand to the Vaca Muerta oil fields and grain to the port of Bahía Blanca.

This decision stems from a lack of progress in negotiations with the national government regarding the transfer of approximately 600 kilometers of national routes to provincial administration. The provincial highway authority, represented by Rodrigo Cadenas, highlighted the significant increase in traffic and road deterioration on both provincial and national routes, citing a Federal Council of Investment (CFI) study.

Cadenas explained that the tolls would target heavy transit, which causes the most damage to road infrastructure. This includes trucks sourced from the Paraná River basin carrying sand for fracking operations in Vaca Muerta. The province also intends to toll trucks carrying grain destined for the port of Bahía Blanca, as these also utilize La Pampa's provincial routes.

La Pampa has previously appealed to national authorities, including the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, regarding the federal road network and concession plans. However, facing "the silence of the Nation," the province has opted to advance with its own toll project. This initiative seeks to ensure that those who utilize La Pampa's infrastructure for their economic activities, without contributing to provincial taxes, will now contribute through tolls.