Ricardo Ferreiro took part in the AmCham Energy Forum 2025, where he highlighted that the technical efficiency achieved now provides a solid foundation for scaling up.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina hosted its AmCham Energy Forum 2025 under the theme "A Competitive Argentina in the Global Energy Matrix." Speaking at the event, Ricardo Ferreiro, President of E&P, noted that Vaca Muerta has already laid the foundations for operational efficiency and productivity. These advances, he said, are a springboard "for us to take a leap up in terms of scale and accelerate the pace of growth."

Ferreiro spoke on the panel entitled “Vaca Muerta as a Foundation for Energy Development: Efficiency, Competitiveness, and Scale for Export” alongside Pablo Vera Pinto, Financial Director of Vista Energy. In his remarks, he also addressed the role of energy in today’s international context.

“We’re catching a second wind in the hydrocarbons segment, particularly in gas, although also in oil. The energy transition is advancing steadily and remains essential, though it’s moving at a slower pace than we initially expected. In the meantime, the world faces two highly pressing energy needs in this period of extreme volatility: security of supply and affordability,” he pointed out.

Ferreiro stressed that meeting this challenge requires shoring up the economic and financial aspects as well as strengthening technical foundations. This includes “the development of human resources, contractors, and the entire value chain.” He concluded by underlining the importance of “working across all fronts to make the operation as competitive as possible.”

Putting resources to good use

Ferreiro explained that expanding the development platform and making the leap to scale up is eminently achievable. In the oil sector, this process is already under way, while in the gas sector, it will involve developing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export projects to move this along. "All of this means more drilling rigs, more fracturing sets, and a greater demand for all kinds of services, creating a more competitive market overall, reducing costs, and improving efficiency," he indicated.

He also underlined the work carried out by the Techint Group and Tecpetrol in fostering local contractor development and education, which he described as the fundamental pillars of growth. Through the ProPymes Program, the company works to strengthen small and medium-sized businesses and build an integrated value chain. “When we developed the Fortín de Piedra field in 2017, more than 1,000 companies were involved, which meant we were able to respond quickly and meet our deadlines,” he recalled.

Ferreiro went on to share the story of Thiara Muñoz, a young woman from Senillosa who received a Roberto Rocca scholarship and took part in GenEra Neuquén. In a recent radio interview, she shared her excitement about joining the energy sector and her decision to study petroleum engineering. “We need to keep attracting and developing talent for this industry. Education is the most powerful driver of social mobility and progress. As a Group, we’re fully committed to scholarships, training, and advancing technical knowledge,” he emphasized.

Before closing the panel session, Ferreiro turned to the topic of innovation and its central role in the company’s strategy. “Tecpetrol launched its first remote control room which now oversees and manages drilling operations for all our wells from Mexico to Argentina. This technology has enabled us to significantly enhance safety, while continuing to improve efficiency and lower costs,” he said.