Properly restore the areas disturbed during excavation
Install shut-off valves on both sides of crossings under watercourses
Use only authorized water sources
Obtain an environmental insurance policy with sufficient coverage
Ensure that the waste management companies have the corresponding environmental certificates
Additionally, YPF must inform provincial authorities about the start, progress, and completion of the work
A key project to expand gas production
The authorization is part of the energy infrastructure expansion process promoted by the Government to support the growth of Vaca Muerta and enhance hydrocarbon exports
The new gas pipeline will improve connectivity between strategic production areas and facilitate the transportation of gas from some of the country's most important fields
The Ministry of Energy authorized YPF to proceed with the construction of a new gas pipeline in Neuquén, a project considered strategic to strengthen the energy infrastructure linked to the development of Vaca Muerta
The measure was formalized through Resolution 141/2026, published in the Official Gazette, after the company submitted all the technical and environmental documentation required by provincial and national authorities
The authorization allows for the crossing of the Planicie Banderita dam, within the perimeter of the concession of the Cerros Colorados Hydroelectric Complex
What areas will the new gas pipeline connect
The project is part of the initiative called "Gasoducto PC LAS to Collector 13 ISTMO", designed to connect the unconventional exploitation areas La Angostura I and II with Loma La Lata – Sierra Barrosa, two key zones for hydrocarbon production in Neuquén
The authorized section crosses lands granted to Cerros Colorados Hidroeléctrica Argentina S.A., whose exploitation is managed by Edison Inversiones S.A.U.
What areas will the new gas pipeline connect?
The agencies that evaluated the project
Before granting the final authorization, the Government requested technical reports from various specialized agencies
Among them participated:
The Interjurisdictional Authority of the Basins of the Limay, Neuquén, and Negro Rivers (AIC)
The Dam Safety Regulatory Agency (ORSEP)
The concessionaire of the hydroelectric complex
The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of Neuquén
ORSEP concluded that the construction does not affect the safety of the dam or the monitoring systems, although it recommended paying special attention to a sector located below the maximum levels of the Mari Menuco reservoir
For its part, the AIC determined that the project does not generate significant impacts on water resources or aquatic ecosystems, although it issued a series of preventive recommendations due to the environmental sensitivity of the area
Environmental approval and requirements for YPF
The definitive backing arrived in April, when the province of Neuquén approved the Environmental Impact Study through Resolution 672/2026
Environmental assessment and requirements for YPF
The environmental license imposes a series of obligations on the state-owned oil company, including:
