The ambitious energy project of Vaca Muerta, in Argentinahas reached a new milestone with the award to Técnicas Reunidas of a contract worth 440 million dollars (around 424 million euros). This agreement positions the Spanish company as a key player in the development of a hydrocarbon storage and dispatch terminal, an essential component for the export of crude oil from one of the largest unconventional oil and gas fields in the world.
High-impact infrastructure
Located in Punta Colorada, province of Río Negro, the terminal will have a storage capacity of 600,000 cubic meters, distributed in five tanks. In addition, it will be able to dispatch up to 62,000 m³ per day through two interconnected monobuoys that will facilitate the loading of tankers. This facility not only represents a logistic improvement, but will also be a pillar for the expansion of exports from Vaca Muerta.
The project is promoted by VMOS, a company that brings together the main players in the Argentine energy sector, including YPF, Vista Energy Argentina, Pampa Energía and Pan American Sur. In total, the construction of the terminal will require an investment of approximately US$1.8 billion (about 1.736 billion euros), being part of a larger system that includes a 437-kilometer pipeline to connect the field with the loading and unloading terminal.
The role of Técnicas Reunidas
Técnicas Reunidas will undertake the engineering, procurement and construction management of this infrastructure, tasks that will be executed by its teams in Madrid, Argentina and Chile. According to the company, this contract is in line with its Salta strategic plan, which prioritizes projects with lower construction risk and greater strategic impact. The execution of the project will require close to one million man-hours of work and it is expected to start commercial operation in July 2027. The participation of Técnicas Reunidas, with a consolidated track record in the energy sector, reinforces its position as a leader in complex developments in Latin America.
A boost for Argentina’s energy economy
Vaca Muerta, with an extension of 30,000 square kilometers, is the largest oil project in Argentina and one of the most relevant worldwide. This field not only has the potential to transform the country’s energy economy, but is also destined to become a key player in the global hydrocarbons market. The construction of the Punta Colorada terminal is a strategic step within a broader plan that involves total investments estimated at US$3 billion (about 2.9 billion euros). This development will not only strengthen the country’s export capacity, but will also consolidate Vaca Muerta as a benchmark in the production and export of crude oil.
