Argentina Energy Information

Total Energy Consumption

Per capita consumption in Argentina is the second highest in Latin America after Chile (1.6 toe/cap). Electricity demand per capita is around 2 700 kWh/cap (2020).

Total consumption declined by 1.1%/year over 2016-2019 and by 9% in 2020 to 71 Mtoe. Previously, it had increased by 1.6%/year from 2010 to 2016.

Gas dominates the total energy consumption (56% in 2020, relatively stable since 2000); it is followed by oil (30%), nuclear and hydroelectricity (8%), biomass (5%), and coal (1%). The rate of connection to the natural gas network is relatively high (approximately 60%).

Interactive Chart Argentina Total Energy Consumption

Crude Oil Production

Oil production declined by 5% in 2020 to 29 Mt, after a 4% rise in 2019. Previously, it had been falling regularly from a peak level of 45 Mt in 1998 to 28 Mt in 2018. Argentina is the 4^th largest oil producer in South America after Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia.

Crude oil exports increased in 2020, as in 2019, to more than 5 Mt. Exports of oil products rose in 2020 to 1.2 Mt (0.4 Mt in 2019).

Interactive Chart Argentina Crude Oil Production

Oil Products Consumption

Oil product consumption declined by 14% in 2020, to 23 Mt. Previously, it decreased by 5.6%/year from 2015 to 2019.

Transport absorbs about 43% of that consumption.

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)

Interactive Chart Argentina Refined Oil Products Production

Natural Gas Consumption

Natural gas consumption declined by 0.5% in 2019 and 6% in 2020, to 49 bcm. It increased at the rate of 2%/year from 2009 to 2018. Argentina is the largest gas consumer in South America.

Electricity production absorbs 38% of that consumption, followed by the residential and tertiary sector, which consumes 24%, and the industrial sector.

Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)

Graph: GAS CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)

Interactive Chart Argentina Natural Gas Domestic Consumption

Coal Consumption

Coal consumption is very low (0.9 Mt in 2020).

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)

Interactive Chart Argentina Coal and Lignite Domestic Consumption

Power Consumption

Electricity consumption has been declining since 2015 (-1.2%/year) to 124 TWh in 2020. It grew strongly between 2002 and 2015 (4.4%/year).

Industry is the largest electricity consumer (37%), ahead of the residential sector (38%) and services (24%). The services sector share has been relatively stable since 2000, while households have been gaining share from industry in that 15-year period.

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)

Renewable in % Electricity Production

The Renewable Energy Act of 2015 sets the goal of increasing the share of renewables (apart from large hydro) to 12% of electricity production in 2019 (6% achieved), 16% in 2021, 18% in 2023, and 20% in 2025. The law includes an obligation for large consumers (above 300 kW) to achieve these targets individually with fines on large electricity users that do not meet their target.

In 2016, a new law created a fund aimed at financing or buying interests in renewable power projects and enabled power purchase agreements between renewable producers and large consumers.

Interactive Chart Argentina Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

CO₂ Fuel Combustion/CO₂ Emissions

In its second NDC, published in December 2020, the country announced its aim to not exceed net GHG emissions of 359 MtCO₂ by 2030. It is equivalent to a total decrease in emissions of 19% compared to the historical peak reached in 2007; this level is around 26% lower than the target set in the first NDC.