Weekly Report - 23 May 2019 (WR-19-20)

ARGENTINA | Offshore oil and gas explorations. On 17 May the energy ministry gave the go-ahead for oil and gas exploration of three basins divided into 18 blocks off the coast of Argentina, in the country’s first international offshore public tender process. Exploration permits have been awarded to a total of 13 companies – YPF, Equinor, Tecpetrol, Qatar Petroleum, ExxonMobil, Total, Pluspetrol, Wintershall, British Petroleum, Shell, Tullow, Mitsui, and ENI – who will invest a total of US$724m. Company officials were welcomed to a meeting with President Mauricio Macri to mark the occasion.