Vaca Muerta, the Big Winner of the Andes-Atlantic Corridor
The Argentine Government and the U.S. administration officially launched the Andes-Atlantic Corridor in New York, a megaproject of infrastructure that promises to channel up to US$ 7 billion through 2027. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau sealed an agreement that functions as much as a geopolitical and commercial alliance as it does a construction plan. And at the center of that alliance is Vaca Muerta.
US$ 6 billion for Argentina LNG
Of the projected funds, the overwhelming majority—some US$ 6 billion—is earmarked to back Argentina LNG, the natural gas export project led by YPF alongside international partners. The financing is a milestone for its commercial viability, as it seeks to position the country as a competitive exporter of liquefied natural gas.
Argentina LNG has long grappled with logistics and transportation bottlenecks that limit the volumes it can bring to the external market. The agreement aims to resolve them, and Washington sees it this way because it views the Neuquén basin as an important piece for Western energy security.
The Liquefied Natural Gas project is the main protagonist of this agreement.
Pipelines, rail lines and ports to evacuate production
The plan connects northwestern Argentina, rich in lithium and copper, with Vaca Muerta and exit ports through new oil pipelines, gas pipelines and high-voltage transmission lines, such as the AMBA I project. The idea is to create a modern logistics corridor that streamlines the evacuation of Patagonian production.
On transportation, the agreement opens the door for U.S. companies to compete in tenders for inland waterways and railways. Among the projects in the pipeline are the reactivation of Belgrano Cargas and the railway line connecting Vaca Muerta with the Port of Bahía Blanca, which is critical for reducing costs and increasing export capacity for Patagonian products.
Agreement between Argentina and the United States focused on Vaca Muerta.
The pact also includes fiber optics, submarine cables and customs inspection security, with the aim of modernizing communications in oil and gas provinces and facilitating the operation of complex facilities in remote areas.
How it gets paid: without Argentine public debt
Quirno clarified that the Argentine State will not take on debt for these works. Financing will come from EXIM Bank and DFC, which will lend money and provide guarantees to U.S. companies and suppliers to operate on the projects. Thus, credit risk falls on U.S. public funds and reduces fiscal exposure for the Argentine Treasury.
RIGI, the guarantee for investors
Argentina's counterpart is the Regime for Large Investments (RIGI). The Government committed to maintaining clear rules and guaranteeing fiscal and commercial benefits and free access to foreign currency. RIGI offers tax stability, preferential access to dollars and customs exemptions, and functions as an institutional guarantee that rules will not change unilaterally. The combination of U.S. guarantees and Argentine regulatory framework seeks to attract long-term private capital to Vaca Muerta development.
The governor of Neuquén, Rolando Figueroa, and his counterpart from Río Negro, Alberto Weretilneck.
Why Vaca Muerta matters to Washington
The Andes-Atlantic Corridor is the first project of its kind promoted by the G7 Association in the Western Hemisphere. With war in the Middle East putting at risk the transit of crude through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States seeks to secure the supply of energy and critical minerals from "allied and like-minded" countries.
In this context, Vaca Muerta shifts from being a local promise to a piece of Western energy security: its unconventional gas reserves rank among the world's largest and are far removed from traditional conflict zones.
What to expect: investment and employment
The agreement functions as a high-level political and financial backing for YPF's plans and its partners. With the export pipeline and Argentina LNG liquefaction plants financed, the projects could accelerate their timelines. Direct and indirect employment is expected in construction, operation and maintenance, plus a multiplier effect in services and supplies in Neuquén, Río Negro and other provinces of influence.