Provincial deputies affirmed that the oil and gas industry in Salta could end in 10 years. One of the reasons is the difference in costs with Vaca Muerta.
The Energy Commission of the Chamber of Deputies held a meeting with the Minister of Production Martín de Los Ríos. Santiago Vargaspresident of the Commission, reported the points of the meeting in Hour of Voices (FM Ya 91.3).
Regarding oil exploitations, Vargas reported that the northern areas have been concessioned for a long time and renovations must be carried out.
The three companies that operate are Tecpetrol, Panamerican and High Luck. The first made greater investments, and currently has three drilling holes in Campo Durán. Also, explorations are being carried out in the Pescado River area with the possibility of finding a good source of gas and oil.
“What we unfortunately have is a very big difference between the drilling costs between Vaca Muerta and what is north. The main reasons have to do with the geological form in the north and especially the depth, which makes drilling very expensive. For this reason, companies have migrated to the south, 98% of the exploitation is in Vaca Muerta. Unfortunately, and we have been discussing this with the deputy (Matias) Monteagudo“We don’t have much hope that this oil and gas industry will last much longer than, they tell us, 10 years,” he stated.
He even maintained that there is talk of a very large gas source in the province, but until Vaca Muerte is exhausted, there are no expectations of exploration.
Regarding jobs, he highlighted that the largest company is Refinor, which has been in danger for a long time. “It is working with minimum values, but today the exploitation it has, no matter how minimal it may be, would have been enough for us not to run out of gas; but that is injected into a national network,” he said.
At Refinor, there are around 200 workers. Between the three large companies, there are around 500 workers; without counting those with outsourced companies, which are estimated to be more than 800.
The electric energy
On the other hand, Vargas referred to the electrical energy problems and indicated that it is an issue that he will try to get into the commission he presides over.
He even reported that he requested a report from EDESa through his bank because they detected that there is a different charge between the interior and Capital.
“We are paying double in Tartagal what we pay in Salta Capital and we don’t understand why. We understand that it is an expense that is prorated to all the inhabitants of the province of Salta and it seems that it is not,” he indicated.
