Argentina has launched the construction of the Néstor Kirchner gas pipeline project connecting the Vaca Muerta shale play in southern Argentine to consumption centres. The first phase of the proposed gas pipeline would stretch between Tratayén in the Neuquén province and Salliqueló in the province of Buenos Aires. The construction of the first phase of the project (24 mcm/d or 8.8 bcm/year) should require US$1.6bn in investments, last 18 months and be completed by the winter of 2023. The entire pipeline, which is estimated to cost US$3.4bn, would then be extended to San Jerónimo (Santa Fe), crossing the provinces of Río Negro, La Pampa and Buenos Aires, and its capacity would be increased to 44 mcm/d (16 bcm/year).
Argentina had launched a tender for the gas pipeline project in July 2019 and extended the submission deadline to late March 2020, before suspending the whole project due to macroeconomic challenges.