YPF has submitted its first formal request to export up to 1 million cubic meters per day of natural gas to Brazil, leveraging pipeline capacity through Bolivia under an agreement with Tradener. Simultaneously, YPF aims to nearly triple its shale gas output by 2030 from Vaca Muerta, supported by a US$6 billion investment plan for 2026 and strategic asset sales to bolster liquidity amid lower oil prices.
YPF’s recent application to the Argentine Energy Secretariat seeks approval for interruptible gas exports to Brazil up to January 1, 2026, using the extensive pipeline network crossing Bolivia managed by YPFB. The gas supply originates from Loma La Lata and Sierra Barrosa in Neuquén’s shale basin and will transit through Argentina’s TGN and TGS pipelines to Campo Durán, Salta, then onward via the Gasoducto de Integración Juana Azurduy or Gasoducto Madrejones at the Bolivia border. This marks YPF’s entry as the seventh producer from Vaca Muerta and Austral Basin to enter the Brazilian gas market through this Bolivian transit corridor, which currently has excess capacity owing to declining Bolivian output. The contract with Tradener includes a maximum daily volume of 1 MMm3 and a total volume of 25 MMm3 under interruptible terms, targeting industrial, residential, and power generation end users in Brazil. Pricing is linked to a formula based on Brent oil prices plus a margin and includes export and transport costs.
In parallel, YPF plans to invest approximately US$6 billion in 2026, a 20% increase from 2025, despite anticipated lower crude prices. This investment drive aims to secure shale gas and oil production growth, while managing financial risk by divesting conventional assets such as Manantiales Behr and Chachahuen fields, and stakes in Metrogas and Profertil. These sales are expected to generate revenue between US$1.6 and 2 billion, reinforcing YPF’s financial foundation for Vaca Muerta expansion. YPF’s shale production is forecasted to rise from 20 MMm3/day in 2024 to 65 MMm3/day by 2030, with a focus on expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity through offshore floating units planned off Río Negro.
This export strategy supports regional energy integration and Brazil’s gas diversification, while YPF’s asset sales and capital expenditures indicate a proactive approach to sustain growth under volatile global energy prices. The growing pipeline exports via Bolivia emphasize cross-border cooperation, with operators like Tradener and other Argentine producers securing footholds in Brazil’s increasing gas demand market.
