The government of José Antonio Kast offered the administration of Javier Milei the use of Chilean ports on the Pacific to export Argentine gas to Asian markets.
The initiative for energy integration between Chile and Argentina was proposed following a visit from a Chilean delegation to the Vaca Muerta formation.
The Energy Minister of the neighboring country, Ximena Rincón, openly presented the proposal: “Argentina can access the Pacific through our ports and connect with Asia. We can take advantage of our infrastructure and interconnect energetically with this country.”
Vaca Muerta
The offer responds to a strategic need for Chile, which relies almost entirely on the importation of hydrocarbons. This vulnerability was recently highlighted by international price increases, prompting the country to seek closer and more stable sources of supply.
For Argentina, the proposal is also significant. The development of Vaca Muerta, considered the second largest reserve of unconventional gas and the fourth of oil in the world, faces the challenge of expanding its export capacity.
In this context, access to ports on the Pacific Ocean appears as a key alternative to reach Asia more efficiently, one of the main global demand centers for liquefied natural gas.
Javier Milei and José Antonio Kast
The visit also included the participation of the Chilean Foreign Minister, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, and a binational working group between authorities from the Biobío region and the province of Neuquén, where Argentine energy development is concentrated.
The possible energy corridor would connect Argentine deposits with Chilean ports by crossing the Andes mountains, reducing times and logistical costs compared to traditional Atlantic routes. This factor could be decisive for closing contracts with countries like Japan, South Korea, China, and India.
The initiative also marks a shift in the energy relationship between both countries. Following the tensions generated during the gas crisis in the 2000s, the new scenario aims for cooperation based on mutual benefits, in a context of closeness and excellent relations between Presidents Javier Milei and José Antonio Kast.
If the project advances, energy integration between both countries could redefine the positioning of the Southern Cone in the global energy market, with Vaca Muerta as the central axis of that development.
