Our Roundtable featured keynote remarks from Secretary of Energy Gustavo Lopetegui (see presentation below), participation by Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Urbanas from the US Department of Energy, the president of state energy firm YPF, the chairmen of Argentina’s national electricity and natural gas regulators and several other private sector representatives and government officials.

Across two days and several high level panels there was intense discussion of oil and gas issues as well as the emerging role for the lithium market and the broader contours of how the global energy transition is unfolding in Argentina. A unique lunch panel featured a debate with renowned political analysts and their insights on the intersection of energy and politics as the country heads into a presidential election this October.

Not surprisingly, much of the discussion centered on the ongoing structural adjustments and reforms enacted by the Macri administration, particularly those aimed at subsidies and fiscal incentives both in terms of consumers but also energy producers.

Vaca Muerta and the country’s success in developing the massive unconventional resource potential was also heavily debated. Though important gains have been made to reduce logistical and operation costs, continued focus on efficiency measures and creating a more competitive ecosystem is a must, panelists underscored. There is no doubt that further efforts are required to boost the amount and capabilities of service and equipment providers, but also to greatly increase the number of operators in the country’s oil and gas sector.

Furthermore, how to create sufficient infrastructure to “move the molecules” remains a key piece to the challenge. Gains have been made utilizing long-inactive pipelines and infrastructure and reopening natural gas exchanges with Chile and Brazil in the short to medium term makes eminent good sense.

A majority of panelists agreed that the key to fully monetizing Vaca Muerta’s potential was to fully plug Argentina into the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. To do so will require all segments of the country’s energy sector to participate in the strategic development of the resource – the government, YPF, private sector participants, regulators and civil society. The technology, geography and volumes, not to mention contractual arrangements, are but a few of the elements that will require attention and crucial decisions in the coming months and years. Further, one panelist argued that political consensus and a law supported across party lines stipulating and protecting investment in such a major infrastructure project is needed to reduce the so-called country risk component.

Beyond the fiscal impacts debated, Argentina’s energy sector is also undergoing a broader transformation and disruption brought about by global trends. Indeed, the policy efforts aimed at increasing renewable energy deployment through the government’s RenovAr program was discussed. Panelists agreed that the effort to date had been important but a thorough cost benefit analysis was required in order to best consolidate and determine the gains and to continue forward momentum. Moreover, a new distributed generation law passed last year is being developed for implementation. Benchmarking against international examples from California to Germany to Chile were discussed during the Roundtable.

And, of course, the role that mobility and electric vehicles are playing in the discussion of energy and emissions reduction is an increasing topic for debate in Argentina. Programs and goals set by the City of Buenos Aires, but also efforts made at the provincial level, have led to an uptick over the last year or so in options for citizens to utilize electric transportation, both mass transit and individual vehicles.

Finally, the topic of lithium featured an illuminating discussion of the potential for Argentina to position itself as a global player. However, the market is still quite small, prices are volatile and the number of projects that exist solely on paper far exceeds the reality that global headlines portray for lithium. But as several panelists argued, therein is the opportunity for oil and gas companies to bring to bear financing and operational insights to the sector and perhaps facilitate some of the dormant projects and boost the development of Argentina’s lithium market.

p>March also featured participation in a panel at the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC focused on energy under the AMLO administration and our analysis and commentary on the question of distributed generation in Argentina as well as part of our podcast series.

Argentina Energy Roundtable

Secretary of Energy Gustavo Lopetegui’s Presentation

Videos

Litio en Jujuy

The Outlook for Mexico’s Energy Sector under the AMLO Administration

Podcast

Argentina´s Distributed Generation Market: The Devil is in the Details

Analysis

Argentina´s Distributed Generation Market: The Devil is in the Details

In the News

Quién se inmola por la Argentina

Country Focus: Industry sees USMCA as chance to prod Mexico into comprehensive chemical management

Pobreza Energética, posibilidad real de combatirla en México

An update on the efforts to combat fuel theft was the topic of a closing keynote address by Alfonso Durazo, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection. We also convened a unique half-day dedicated to workforce development and talent creation for Mexico’s energy sector together with our partner ANUIES, Mexico’s association of universities and higher learning institutions. Event photo gallery and presentations are available below. An event report and policy paper will be published in late March.

Our webinar series this month also focused on Mexico and examined natural gas. The webinar was a follow-up to a two-part report series that we published by John McNeece and his assessment of the burgeoning US-Mexico natural gas trade and risks associated with the spike in imports into Mexico from US gas fields and an ever-growing pipeline infrastructure footprint. He was joined by Veronica Irastorza for the webinar.

Below we also include IOA Board Member and former BP Mexico chief Chris Sladen’s latest ANZMEX Energy Matters column and his views on the outlook for oil production in Mexico.

As Colombia launched its first major renewable energy auction at the end of February, we weighed in on the key issues for possible bidders and the outlook for the tender.

Our podcast series turned to Venezuela and the unfolding political developments in the country as Juan Guaido, the leader of the national assembly, declared himself interim president and was quickly recognized by a long list of countries in the hemisphere. We spoke to UCSD Distinguished Professor of Political Science David Mares for his insights and views.

At the end of March, we host our annual Argentina Energy Roundtable in Buenos Aires. This year’s event will be divided into two days with oil and gas the focus on March 27, particularly the advances in the country’s unconventional resource development and the future of natural gas including possibilities for moving beyond regional natural gas exports to LNG. Discussion of developments around lithium and energy transition, the RenovAr program and mobility trends will comprise the agenda for the March 28 sessions. The election year backdrop will also figure prominently.

Mexico Energy Roundtable

Presentations

Photo Gallery

Opinion & Analysis

Will Companies Flock to Colombia’s Renewables Tender?

Energy matters – will oil production go up, or down?

Webinar

Mexico Natural Gas Outlook 2019

Podcast

Venezuela’s Political Outlook: A conversation with David Mares

In the News

Participa Rector de la UABCS en foro nacional energético

Despite Presidents’ Saber-Rattling, U.S. NatGas Exports to Mexico Expected to Continue

We are very pleased to share this month’s featured report LNG and the Panama Canal: Should Another Expansion Already Be on the Drawing Board? The report was prepared during the fall 2018 quarter as part of a research project by Melisa Uzcategui-Ebner, Timona Ghosh, and Edgar Kelly-Garcia, graduate students at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy & Strategy (GPS).

The Panama Canal’s third set of locks opened in June 2016. By the end of the canal’s fiscal year last September, LNG transits had contributed significantly to a record-setting year of 442.1 million tons crossing its waters. Beyond an assessment of the current state of LNG usage in the canal, the report analyzes a series of elements associated with the possibility of another expansion using the third set of locks as a reference. Where the Panama Canal fits in the larger geopolitical outlook could be greatly determined by its future expansion, how such an additional expansion is financed and if LNG continues to grow in importance for the canal’s operations and financial well-being.

Our webinar series kicked off the year with Mexico Oil Outlook 2019 and a new format with a virtual panel. It was a lively discussion and debate with John Padilla, Managing Director, IPD Latin America and Gonzalo Monroy, Managing Director, GMEC with insights and analysis on the issues of oil production, refining, fuels infrastructure and investment as the new year unfolds in Mexico.

Our podcast series delved into fuels and finance in Mexico in an interview with Marco Cota, CEO of Talanza Energy.

Following up on our Roundtable in Bogota last year and podcast with energy ministry officials in December, we published an analysis of the outlook for renewable energy in Colombia as the first auction takes place. We also contributed our insights to understanding the changes in Argentina’s energy secretariat as the new year arrived.

Our webinar series continues on February 6 with Mexico: Natural Gas Outlook 2019. John McNeece, the author of a two-part analysis of US-Mexico natural gas trade will present his research and particularly the risks to Mexico presented by its growing reliance on imports from the US, and how those risks may be mitigated. He will be joined by Veronica Irastorza, Associate Director at NERA Economic Consulting in Mexico City.

We head to Mexico City for our first Roundtable of the year on February 28/March 1 and Buenos Aires on March 27-28 for our annual Energy Roundtable.

Report

LNG and the Panama Canal: Should Another Expansion Already Be on the Drawing Board?

Opinion & Analysis

Will Colombia’s renewable energy auction set a new bar for the market?

How Are Politics Influencing Energy Policy in Argentina?

Webinar

Mexico Oil Outlook 2019

Podcast

Fuels and Finance in Mexico

In the News

Expertos prevén que sólo con apoyo de IP se alcanzaría meta petrolera

We concluded the year with our annual program in collaboration with the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, DC and a discussion and panel at the National Press Club. This year’s event focused on the changes in the US Congress and what it may entail for US-Latin American energy issues but particularly the new USMCA trade agreement and the broader US-Mexico bilateral relationship. Below are links to an event summary and highlight video.

As part of our podcast series and a follow-up to our Colombia Energy Roundtable, we spoke with Julia Gutierrez in the Ministry of Mines and Energy for an update and insights on Colombia’s first renewable energy auction.

We will also take advantage of our final edition of the year to look back and share selected reports, podcasts and webinars that we produced this year, as well as insights from our diverse programming across the hemisphere. Consider it a curated compendium of the 2018 IOA Energy & Sustainability Program.

We look forward to seeing you in 2019 and we wish you and yours a joyous and peaceful holiday season!

Washington, DC Event Summary

USMCA and Latin American Energy Diplomacy Under a New US Congress

Washington, DC Event Video

What does the new US Congress mean for Latin America and energy?

Podcast

Colombia’s Renewable Energy Auction

Select Reports from 2018

Mexico’s Growing Reliance on US Natural Gas: Part I – Seizing Synergies

Mexico’s Growing Reliance on US Natural Gas: Part II – Assessing Risks

Transición Energética en Centroamérica

Brazil’s Oil & Gas Industry Capacity Building: Lessons Learned from the PRH-ANP Human Resources Program

ENRE Visit to California Summary Report

XXVII La Jolla Energy Conference – Summary Report and Panel Notes

Taking Stock of the Macri Energy Reform Agenda: Tariffs and Subsidy Reduction

Towards an Electric Vehicle Future? An Analysis of the State of EV’s in Lima, Peru

With Huge Shale and Renewable Resources, Export Potential Gains in Argentina

Select Videos from 2018

La Jolla Conference

AMLO, Mexico and Energy

Interview with Aldo Flores Quiroga, Deputy Secretary for Hydrocarbons of Mexico

Interview with Elizabeth Urbanas, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Americas, United States Department of Energy

Interview with Raphael Moura, Upstream Advisor to the Board of Directors, Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP)

Interview with Lucas Aristizabal, Senior Director, Corporate Ratings, Fitch Ratings

Select Opinion & Analysis from 2018

Mexico’s New Energy Reform (Chapters 2 & 4)

Will Brazil’s New President Shake Up the Energy Sector?

El caso de negocio para apoyar consultas previas que sean libres e informadas

Will Coal Soon Be History in Latin America?

Select Podcasts from 2018

Energy and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s Inaugural Address

Energy storage and its implications, an interview with John Jung, CEO of Greensmith Energy

Successful solar distributed generation markets – transparency and certainty

Argentina Shakes Up Energy Ministry

Top 4 2018 Energy Trends

Select Webinars from 2018

Understanding Compliance Risks in Mexico’s Energy Sector

CFE’s Transformation and the Mexican Electric Market

Ecuador’s Energy Sector Reorientation

Long-Term Regulatory Certainty in Mexico

Climate Resilience in the Caribbean: Building the Business Case