Argentina's biggest energy company YPF, has found unconventional shale oil and natural gas in Mendoza province, confirming the extension of the massive Vaca Muerta area, officials said on Thursday.
Amidst raising tensions between the Argentine government and Spain’s Repsol-YPF oil company, Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo warned on Tuesday that the administration led by President Cristina Fernández will take “all necessary measures to guarantee the country's energy self-supply”.
As was anticipated yet another Argentine province, Salta, announced Sunday its decision to revoke a concession from Spanish held oil company YPF. The governor from the north-west province of Salta, Juan Manuel Uturbey, and a close ally of President Cristina Fernandez, announced his decision to revoke oil company YPF concession of the Tartagal Oeste area and his intention to include it in a list of areas that will be put out to tender.
The Argentine province of Mendoza joined on Friday other oil producing areas of the country in cancelling concession contracts which has been awarded to the Spanish owned oil corporation Repsol-YPF, with which the government of President Cristina Fernandez is involved in a controversy over long term investment.
Fitch Ratings has lowered its long-term rating on Spanish oil company Repsol YPF SA by one notch to BBB after its Argentine unit said it would pay out its dividend in shares instead of cash. Last week Moody’s adopted a similar decision. The company is currently in a dispute with the Argentine government.
Argentina and Repsol-YPF oil corporation again clashed on Wednesday over the future of the Spanish owned company while members of President Cristina Fernandez administration said measures “can not be discarded” thus re-launching fears about further government actions.
Adding fuel to the quarrel between Argentina and Spain for disagreements over Spanish investors administrated YPF, Spanish Industry minister of José Manuel Soria vowed on Tuesday to defend his country’s interests.
The governments of the Patagonian provinces of Chubut and Santa Cruz announced the termination of the contract of exploitation of four different oil wells that YPF handles in the Gulf San Jorge and that both provinces share. Spain’s Repsol, the oil giant that controls YPF has announced it will file a lawsuit against the measure.
Argentine Patagonia Chubut province could move to revoke oil and gas concessions held by Spain’s Repsol controlled oil and gas giant YPF SA as soon as Wednesday, a provincial official said Monday.
The relationship between the Argentine Government and the Spanish Repsol-YPF oil company continues to strain in spite of recent announcements and contacts to try and cool the situation.