The 100-year-old refinery is reinventing itself with global competitiveness in mind

December 23rd marks a cross-industry milestone: the La Plata refinery, the largest complex in the country and one of the most important in South America, celebrates 100 years of history. A century that began under the vision of General Enrique Mosconi, transformed the national industry and today is geared towards a future in which technology, efficiency and sustainability are at the forefront.

A century later, Argentina’s largest refinery confirms its legacy with production records and international recognition: this year it was named the best refinery in Latin America by the Latin America Refining Technology Conference (LARTC) and ranked as one of the most efficient in the world by the consulting firm Solomon.

During the commemoration event, YPF President Horacio Marín summarized the significance of the date: “Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the La Plata Refinery. We remember the engineer Enrique Mosconi and all the people who made this project possible. But we also reclaim the values ​​that guided this management and that form the foundation on which we build the future of our beloved YPF.”

Marín added: “When I was a student, I visited this refinery several times. This is something I never imagined: being here today, in this role. I remember seeing the torch lit hundreds of times as I walked from my house to school along 47th Street. The La Plata refinery was the seed of the development of the entire region. Those of us who were born in this area carry it as a symbol of industrial progress.”

Since its opening in 1925, the refinery has not only transformed the national energy matrix: it has also become the productive heart of Ensenada, Berisso and La Plata. Its impact is measured in direct and indirect employment, in the movement of suppliers, in coordination with universities and technical schools, and in the creation of opportunities for local SMEs. Every day more than 4,000 people enter the complex, reflecting an operation that never stops and maintains the country’s energy pulse.

This connection to the community is part of their identity. The refinery is not just a facility: it is an ecosystem that integrates industry, knowledge and social development. For this reason, the 100th anniversary was experienced as a shared celebration, combining pride in history with anticipation of what is to come.

The anniversary brings concrete results and an ambitious roadmap. In August 2025, the refinery reached a historic record by processing more than one million cubic meters of crude oil in a month, consolidating a processing capacity of more than 210,000 barrels per day and deepening its integration with Vaca Muerta, which today supplies more than 70% of the crude oil processed. Its facilities produce 41% of the gasoline and 39% of the diesel consumed in Argentina, supplying more than 60% of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) and other strategic regions.

But the real change lies not only in the infrastructure, but also in the company culture. YPF promotes transformation aimed at excellence and operational agility. This cultural shift leads to more collaborative processes, data-driven decisions, and a mindset focused on continuous improvement.

In this context, the inauguration of the Real Time Operations Room (RTOR) marks a before and after in the way it operates. This space concentrates all operations of the complex in a single room and connects them to the Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC), creating an integrated system that thinks and acts in real time. This allows you to further shorten response times and reach the optimal operating point more quickly. It is the new operational heart of the refinery: a place where engineers and operators work in a coordinated manner and use data to deepen continuous improvement and make YPF a world-class company.

This cultural and technological shift is part of the 4×4 plan, the strategy that aims to quadruple the value of YPF in four years. The refinery is the industrial muscle of this plan with three clear axes: increasing margins, maximizing efficiency and strengthening fundamentals. Digitalization – from digital twins and dynamic simulators to optimization and predictive maintenance tools – makes it possible to balance performance, quality and energy consumption – essential requirements for competing at regional and global levels.

The 100th anniversary is more than an anniversary, it is a starting point. With millions of dollars in investments, state-of-the-art technology and a people-first culture, La Plata Refinery is solidifying and expanding its role as a key player in Argentina’s energy future. Its impact goes beyond the factory gate: it stimulates the local economy, creates opportunities and strengthens commitment to safe and sustainable operations.

When you think about the next 100 years, you assume that sustainability is not a goal, but a condition. This includes understanding that human talent, safety culture and continuous innovation are the true fuels of the future. Because history inspires, but the future calls. And the refinery is already working in this future.