Brazil will pour 6.1 billion Reais (2.85 billion dollar) to fund renewable-power and bio-fuel technology research, accelerating its efforts to modernize its energy industry and shift away from a commodity-export based economy.
Argentina's nationalized energy company YPF will sue the head of Repsol SA over accusations that YPF's board members were overpaid when the Spanish oil major held a majority stake in the company, the government said.
Concern over Argentina's erratic policy on foreign investments is pushing regional business entrepreneurs toward caution and or keeping them away from South America’s second largest economy. Argentina nationalized Spanish oil major Repsol's majority stake in local energy giant YPF last year, a move that triggered alarm in the international investor community.
Paraguay is considering the announcement made by Uruguayan president Jose Mujica who suggested delaying the coming Mercosur summit in Montevideo scheduled for the end of June, ‘to wait and give time for Paraguay’ (currently suspended) to return to the block.
US Vice-President Joe Biden wound up a visit to Brazil on Friday saying it was high time the two largest economies in the Americas became closer partners in trade, investment and energy. He made the statement following a ‘wide-ranging discussion’ with President Dilma Rousseff at the Planalto palace in Brasilia.
The US dollar in Argentina’s parallel or ‘blue market’ finished on Friday the month of May down 6.4% from the 9.40 Pesos at the end of April, including a slight drop in the last day of trading, that took it to 8.75 Pesos and 8.80 Pesos, buying and selling price.
Argentine President Cristina Fernández administration agreed with oil-producing provinces and unions from the sector to strictly control the levels of exploration, production, the amount of equipment in use and the total number of jobs in each of the oil fields across the country, with the goal of reaching hydrocarbon self-sufficiency within four years.
The Specialist Oil & Gas Advisor for the Falkland Islands Government (FIG), Anne Drinkwater has stated that the Falkland Islands are an attractive location for the oil and gas industry and has praised FIG five year plan which sets the desired economic and social context for development generally.
The Uruguayan offshore platform continues to advance its global positioning and increase its economic value as the Irish firm Tullow Oil, which is currently conducting exploration work in Block 15 of the Uruguayan offshore platform, sold 30% of its stake in its exploration contract to leading Japanese oil company Inpex.
YPF the oil company seized by Argentina’s government last year has lost an arbitration case with a Brazilian company that may cost as much as 1.6 billion dollars in indemnity payments. There was an immediate reaction and YPF shares lost the most among Argentina’s major stocks, 3.6%.