Camuzzi Gas Inversora is led by entrepreneurs Alejandro Macfarlane and Jorge Brito Together with the Italian group led by Fabrizio Garelliannounced an investment of US$3.9 billion for development Plata LNGa liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project that will utilize existing infrastructure during low-demand months and add strategic works to bring gas from Vaca Muerta to Puerto La Plata. This is the first large-scale initiative led by a local private sector to enter the international LNG sector, a market that moves more than US$500 billion annually.
The project includes the use of a Floating LNG vessel, which will allow the equivalent of more than 9 million cubic meters of natural gasThe size to be converted to 2.4 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually. According to the company, the operation targets not only export business: It will have a dual logic, enhancing gas availability to meet domestic demand during the winterWhen the power system requires greater volume to support residential, commercial and industrial consumption.
In a recent statement, it was reported that Del Plata LNG will be generated 500 direct job opportunities And plan to contribute More than $14.5 billion in foreign currency During 20 years of operation, an appropriate number for a country seeking to enhance its energy balance and reduce dependence on imports of liquid fuels, which are historically more expensive to generate electricity.
A project that reshapes the energy map
To move forward, Camuzzi will build new transportation infrastructure between Buchanan and Ensenada, A A 10 km long underwater gas pipeline and an offshore platform for liquefaction vessel mooring. The company announced that it is in an advanced stage of negotiations with an international company specialized in this type of operations, which confirms the global scale of the project. Work is reportedly scheduled to begin next year and official operations will begin in 2028.
Among the details provided, as PERFIL has learned, the most innovative point of the scheme is the clever use of Idle capacity of gas pipeline system during summer. “Between September and May, when domestic demand declines, the system has space available to transport gas from Vaca Muerta to Buenos Aires. This gas, instead of being underutilized, will be destined for export, obtaining an international price that enhances the profitability of the Argentine upstream,” sources familiar with the matter said.
During the winter, the logic is reversed: LNG exports stop and natural gas is released to supply the domestic market. This dynamic contributes to reducing electrical system costs by replacing liquid fuels and improving energy security.
Vaca Muerta as a global platform
Camuzzi’s entry into the LNG market adds to a growing trend: the search for off-limits liquefaction of Neuquén gas. With reserves equivalent to more than 150 years of domestic consumption, Vaca Muerta has become a strategic asset to position Argentina as a major player on the global natural gas map.
Alejandro Macfarlane, President of Camuzzi Gas Inversora, highlighted the national importance of the project: “It will not only generate employment and foreign exchange, but will also position the country in the global energy market.” He said.
The initiative also reflects the growing interest of local and international groups in promoting LNG-related developments, in a global context where energy security and supplier diversification are a priority.