Dynamic production growth natural gas and the more general explosive growth of the mining sector could improve its economic position. Argentineto help her pay it off its debt to the IMF and generally to get her out of this economic isolation. Expectations are currently high as the country hopes to increase natural gas production by 25% from June, when a $1.8 billion pipeline is expected to be completed. The pipeline will transport fuel from the Vaca Muerta field, which is the second largest shale gas field. in the world.

The corresponding report of the Financial Times says that immediately after the completion of the construction of the gas pipeline, work on the export of fuel will begin. Speaking to a British newspaper, Argentine Economy Minister Sergio Massa referred to the vast exports of natural gas and important raw materials such as lithium and other industrial metals and spoke of an “unprecedented growth opportunity” that would help the debtor country pay off its $44 debt. . billion in the IMF starting in 2025. This is Argentina’s debt on a 2018 loan that remained outstanding. “In the coming days, we will start exporting natural gas to Chile, and from September, possibly to Brazil,” he emphasizes and adds that even without additional investment in the sector, the balance of the country’s energy needs will soon change from a deficit of more than $ 5 billion a year that it has today, it will show a surplus of about $12 billion in 2025. Then it will become a gas exporting country, and, according to Mr. Massa, “this will give Argentina the opportunity to pay off its debt in 2025, 2026 and 2027.”

Meanwhile, the country has significant mining operations, with 95 projects underway to extract lithium, copper and industrial metals. However, as the FT notes, during this time, a lot can go wrong and derail Buenos Aires’ plans for economic development and repayment of the country’s debt. After all, the Minister of Economy himself has no illusions about the state of the economy and the severity of the economic crisis in the country. The central bank was forced to print inflationary money, causing Argentina’s inflation to jump to nearly 100%, while currency controls hurt the country’s industry and created a black market for dollars. And the country has remained locked in international markets since 2020, when it defaulted for the ninth time in its history.

To get the economy back on track, the finance minister plans to bring inflation down to 60% while keeping spending under tight control. He bases his optimism on the fact that, after many years, investments in the country, including in the Vaca Muerta shale gas field, could prove decisive.