
Argentina's state-owned IEASA received offers from 14 companies to supply 24 LNG cargoes at an average price of US$ 6.50/mn Btu. All the offers are expected to be awarded for a total of US$ 330mn, according to the energy secretariat.

YPF, the biggest oil producer in Argentina, said on March 16 that it hiked diesel and gasoline pump prices by 7%, helping to finance a US$2.7 billion investment plan to boost crude output.

Oil is heading toward US$ 70 a barrel after OPEC+ chose not to relax supply curbs even as the global economy pulls out of its pandemic-driven slump, confounding widespread expectations the group would loosen the taps.

The Falkland Islands government has agreed to extend each of Rockhopper Exploration plc’s offshore North Falkland basin petroleum licenses, including the Sea Lion discovery area, until Nov. 1, 2022. The extension includes no additional license commitments. The previous expiry date was May 1, 2021.

Norway's Equinor and YPF have entered into an agreement with Shell to jointly farm-down 30% non-operated interests in the CAN 100 block in the North Argentine basin, offshore Argentina.

Argentina forced to quickly ramp up LNG imports in the coming winter months to meet its heating season, as domestic gas production dwindles and Bolivian pipeline imports slow.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he would suspend a tax on diesel fuel, to try and placate truckers, but the government would instead hike taxes on banks to offset lost revenue.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that the country’s state-controlled companies should fulfill a social function and any different understanding by their chief executives was unacceptable.

Brazil’s government will cut its stake in power company Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA , or Eletrobras, to 45% from its current 61% in a planned privatization process, a senior official in the Energy Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro praised his Economy Minister Paulo Guedes as the “anchor” of his government, in an attempt to quash speculation of a deepening division between the two after Bolsonaro last week ousted Petrobras CEO triggering a plunge in markets.