Argentina's shale development, particularly at the Vaca Muerta formation in Patagonia, is currently reshaping the nation's economy.
Who Benefits
Rising global energy prices, which historically presented a vulnerability, are now contributing to Argentina's external strength. The report says Phoenix Global Resources is preparing a US$6-billion expansion within the Vaca Muerta shale patch.
The article ties the shale boom to broader financial movement in the country. The Argentine peso is reportedly countering emerging market losses due to a surge in agricultural exports, increased energy shipments from the Vaca Muerta shale basin, and a wave of dollar borrowing by local companies.
Extraction and Expansion
Construction at the Vaca Muerta Sur pipeline site in Neuquén, Argentina, was observed on March 13, 2025. The report places the pipeline work alongside the expansion plans and the larger energy shift.
The piece describes Vaca Muerta as a force reshaping the economy and links that change to rising global energy prices. It also identifies the role of agricultural exports, energy shipments, and dollar borrowing by local companies in the peso’s movement.
The article does not provide worker testimony or labor conditions at the site, but it does identify the scale of the planned expansion and the physical construction already underway.