The first day of the Argentina Oil & Gas (AOG) Expo 2025 saw Tecpetrol leaders and specialists sharing insights on multiple panels and in discussions at the La Rural exhibition center.

This was the fifteenth edition of the event, organized by the Argentine Institute of Petroleum and Gas (IAPG) to foster debate and encourage the exchange of innovative ideas between companies and professionals from across the energy value chain. On the opening day, the Techint Group was out in force, with visitors stopping by the stand shared by Tecpetrol, Tenaris, and Techint Engineering & Construction to learn more about the Group’s projects and experience.

Gas, oil, and financing: Tecpetrol's roadmap

One of the highlights of the event was the ‘Meeting with CEOs’ panel, where Ricardo Markous shared his views on the market in a conversation with Sergio Mengoni, CEO of TotalEnergies.

“The Techint Group’s industrial DNA made Fortín de Piedra possible. Today, we’re reaching production levels of 24.5 million cubic meters a day, which is 20% of Neuquén’s gas,” emphasized Markous, adding that, “It’s an output level we’ve been able to maintain for several months, from mid-May to mid-August. Now our ambition is to replicate that success in Los Toldos II Este.”

On the market side of things, Markous shared a note of warning: “Gas in Argentina has its limits. Supply is tied to the new Perito Moreno pipeline, and while we’ve managed to sustain production together, there’s little room left in the local market. That’s why at Tecpetrol we chose to shift our investment focus toward oil, in areas like Rincón de los Sauces, which is our second Fortín de Piedra, with a USD 2.5 billion-plan to take production from 20,000 to nearly 100,000 barrels per day.”

He went on to add that “Los Toldos II is another key project, expected to deliver 35,000 barrels per day as from February-March 2027. Our strategy is clear: to become producers. To reach that target, we’re bringing in two Nabors rigs to complete the facilities, with around 70 wells during the ramp-up phase.”

Markous also added that Tecpetrol is working with Chevron and Pluspetrol for Oldelval on a 70,000-barrel project. “Financing is one of the key issues here as it’s the main bottleneck for many of us operating in the area. Growth can’t be achieved just by reinvesting cash flow. We must wait for more stable macroeconomic conditions before we can return to the market. It’s a challenge shared by all of us operators,” he noted.

Asked about regional operations, Markous described a market that remains limited in size. “We export about one and a half million cubic meters to Chile, and we’ve reached agreements with Total to supply Brazil. Beyond gas, hydroelectric power is also a key factor. Brazil has huge storage capacity: we were exporting 1,400 to 1,500 MW. The difficulty with gas is its volatility: demand rises to 200 million in winter but falls back to 120 in summer. That’s where the Garabí converter station, with 2,100 MW, comes in. It has the capacity to generate and supply, giving Argentina an opportunity to boost electricity exchange, which in turn drives greater demand for gas from our producing market.”

“We’re looking at a world where oil is around 76 dollars a barrel, and costs are on the rise. Financing is critical to stabilize the macroeconomy and reduce country risk. Respecting Gas Plan payments is crucial. The cash flow we generate on its own isn’t enough as we need to refinance. The State is encouraging private companies to organize and drive investment, and I welcome the new measures under the RIGI, the Incentives Regime for Large Investments. It’s an excellent initiative, but it’s vital that the rules of the game are respected,” he concluded.

The protagonists of an evolving industry

The opening day also featured the ninth edition of the Young Oil & Gas (JOG) Summit, organized by the IAPG Youth Commission. The event is aimed at professionals taking their first steps in the industry, while also offering in-depth discussions on strategic projects tied to oil and gas, efficiency and competitiveness, professional development, the energy transition, and sustainability.

María Laura García, Chief Human Resources Officer joined the panel “Your Career in Energy,” where she shared her own path as an example: “Thirty years in a company sounds like a lifetime, but, in reality, I was never in the same place. I lived in three different countries, rotated 12 times, and sometimes even within the same role, but in a new location, which is a change in itself. When I started out, I was very anxious, so I understand young people when they say they want to move on quickly. The key thing about bridging the gap between young professionals and leaders is conversation: when you start talking and putting forward ideas, opportunities appear. Personally, I never stood still. Companies can open doors to learning, rotations, and diverse, interdisciplinary projects, all of which bring a welcome change of pace.”

García spoke directly to the new generations with her parting message: “My advice to young people is simple: don’t stay still. Ask questions, as asking is very different from demanding. Bring clear ideas to the table and be open to discussion. That’s how opportunities arise and doors start to open. Spending time in the field is essential as it’s where you really learn how everything works. This industry offers all kinds of possibilities, but too few young people are choosing petroleum engineering. Together, we need to show just how attractive these careers can be. Stay restless and let fear push you forward, not hold you back. Keep moving until you find where you can give your best.”

Speaking on the panel analyzing ‘The unconventional revolution: from the subsoil to the world’, was Daniel Valencio, Vice President of Exploration & Development. He highlighted: “It will be these new generations who will take on the responsibility of positioning Vaca Muerta and Argentina at the forefront of the global oil and gas market, with everything that means for our industry and the country’s economy. You have the advantage of being trained in a world where unconventional reservoirs are already standard, and where programming and artificial intelligence are part of everyday industry practice. You have all the tools needed to lead this process successfully.”

Innovation and collaboration in industry

Marco Tivelli, Chief Technology Officer, participated in Innovation Day, a space for industry to showcase the latest in innovation and collaboration, and shared some examples of recent achievements during the panel on ‘Real Implementation Cases’.

“I got to present several examples of the work we’re doing in innovation at Tecpetrol. It was a really enriching experience: together with YPF, Darcy, and CORVA, we presented real-world cases of the different types of innovation happening today in industry. We shared examples of in-house and Open Source, (Open Innovation), as well as the work we’re doing with TechEnergy Ventures in the context of the energy transition. We also unveiled our new NextGen Energy Operations (NEO) department, designed to organically manage innovation in E&P. The presentation sparked a great deal of interest and prompted many questions from the audience,” Tivelli emphasized.

Luis Lanziani, Supplier Development Sr. Manager, spoke on the panel entitled ‘MESA – Developing Value Networks’, commenting, “We’ve been exploring the scale and potential of using CNG for fracturing pumps, and we shared the steps of our development program to build stronger synergies with our suppliers. We also explained what we do to track and measure supplier performance, so we can identify and share best practices across industry.”

The Añelo bypass: transforming Vaca Muerta

The AOG Expo was the perfect platform to sign the "Añelo Bypass" initiative, a Memorandum of Understanding between the province of Neuquén and private companies. The project, managed through a trust handled by TMF Group, involves building and resurfacing 51 kilometers of roads to secure safer, more efficient freight transport.

Ricardo Markous and Carlos Ormachea, Chairman, were present at the event alongside Horacio Marín, President and CEO of YPF; Julián Escuder, Country Manager of Pluspetrol; Fausto Caretta, Upstream Managing Director of Pan American Energy; Matías Weissel, Chief Operating Officer of Vista Energy; Horacio Turri, Executive Director of E&P at Pampa Energía; Sergio Mengoni, Country Manager of Total Austral; Ana Simionato, Country Manager of Chevron Argentina; and Pablo Bizzotto, CEO of Phoenix.