Energy & Oil

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 21:52 UTC

  Independent oil company plans major expansion in Chile, Argentina and Colombia

  

  Latin American independent oil and gas explorer GeoPark Holdings Ltd is planning a major expansion of its activities in 19 licensed blocks in three countries with the purpose of significantly increasing oil and gas production in the next 18 months, according to a report released by the company.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 06:38 UTC

  S&P downgrades Argentina’s outlook to ‘negative’ spurred by policies enacted since October 2011

  

  Rating Agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) downgraded Argentina’s economic and financial outlook to “negative,” after the expropriation of YPF, which endangers the “B” rating the country has for its sovereign debt.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 03:57 UTC

  YPF nationalization bill does not contemplate compensations, says Kirchnerite Senator

  

  Senator from the Argentine ruling majority and former cabinet chief, Aníbal Fernández assured that the government “will pay the real price for the expropriation of YPF and not what Repsol’s chairman (Antonio Brufau) wants.”

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 01:51 UTC

  Colombia offers to mediate in the YPF conflict between Argentina and Spain

  

  Colombia is available to mediate between Spain and Argentina to find a solution to the dispute over the seizure of YPF from Repsol, said Colombian Vice-president Angelino Garzón.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 01:23 UTC

  Spain’s Repsol threatens companies investing in seized YPF with legal actions

  

  Spain’s main oil corporation Repsol warned it could take legal action against companies that invest in YPF after Argentina seized control of the Spanish company's energy unit last week.

• Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:37 UTC

  Gas condensate discovered in Falklands South basin in first well drilled by B&SP

  

  Borders & Southern Petroleum Plc energy explorer operating in the Falkland Islands announced on Monday the discovery of gas condensate in the first well drilled to a depth of 4.867 meters.

• Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:33 UTC

  YPF seizure approved by 62% of Argentines, according to opinion poll

  

  The recent decision by President Cristina Fernandez to seize a majority stake in YPF from Spain’s Repsol has the approval of 62% of Argentines, while 23% disagree according to a public opinion poll from Poliarquía published in the Sunday edition of La Nacion.

• Sunday, April 22nd 2012 - 23:01 UTC

  Argentine seizure of YPF will be addressed at the June G20 meeting in Mexico

  

  The Argentine government decision to nationalize Spain’s Repsol owned YPF will be discussed in June in Los Cabos, Mexico, during the G-20 summit.

• Sunday, April 22nd 2012 - 22:54 UTC

  Foreign Office sends letter of support to companies active in Falklands threatened by Argentina

  

  The British government, in a move designed to ease concern among the investment community about the Argentine legal threats, has written to some 15 banks and oil exploration companies operating in the region, reports the Daily Telegraph.

• Saturday, April 21st 2012 - 07:13 UTC

  EU parliament deplores YPF seizure; calls for an end to Argentina trade preferences

  

  The European parliament ‘deplored’ the Argentine government decision to expropriate a majority control in the YPF hydrocarbons corporation - which is owned by Spanish energy company Repsol- and called for the suspension of Argentina's tariff concessions under Europe's so-called generalised system of preferences (GSP). In a resolution, the House also urges Argentina to ”return to the path of dialogue and negotiation”.