Mari Menuco, alongside the nearby Los Barreales reservoir, serves as a vital source for drinking water and irrigation across Neuquén province and the wider Alto Valle area, supplying cities including Neuquén Capital, Plottier, Centenario, Cutral Co, and Plaza Huincul. Despite this, provincial authorities under Governor Rolando Figueroa have extended and expanded hydrocarbon concessions—such as Decrees 228/2025 and 276/2025—permitting fracturing operations and the drilling of over 500 wells directly adjacent to and underneath these reservoirs without comprehensive environmental impact studies or prior consultation with indigenous communities.
Recent incidents, including a January 2026 leak near Los Barreales and multiple accidents around Vaca Muerta’s oil fields, highlight chronic issues of inadequate oversight and transparency; companies have reportedly minimized reported contamination extents. These ongoing environmental threats have mobilized widespread opposition from indigenous groups, environmental organizations, and legal advocates calling for the immediate cessation of fracking in the Mari Menuco area. The interconnectedness of these reservoirs with the Neuquén and Río Negro river basins raises concerns about long-term contamination effects on potable water supplies for over half a million residents, amplifying the urgency for regulatory reform and stricter environmental governance.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
