{"id":50361054,"date":"2022-11-25T18:27:23","date_gmt":"2022-11-25T18:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialogochino.net\/?p=61054"},"modified":"2023-09-12T21:23:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T20:23:18","slug":"361054-vaca-muerta-argentina-climate-cash-jobs-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/energy\/361054-vaca-muerta-argentina-climate-cash-jobs-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Argentina balance climate, cash, jobs and justice at Vaca Muerta?"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the Argentine government, oil and gas extraction at Vaca Muerta<\/a>, the vast geological formation in the western province of Neuqu\u00e9n that is home to some of the world\u2019s largest shale deposits, presents an opportunity to solve the country\u2019s energy supply problems, to boost foreign exchange and to create jobs.<\/p>\n

In the first six months of the year, Argentina spent over US$6 billion<\/a> on energy imports, 50% more than in the same period in 2021, an increase that is partly explained by disruptions in the energy sector due to Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine. This has taken a toll on the country\u2019s foreign currency reserves, which now stand at US$42 billion, having dropped by US$100 million<\/a> in October alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project can become one of the most important commodity generators in the country, something that is urgently needed,\u201d said Lara Bernstein, a researcher at the consultancy firm Econom\u00eda y Energ\u00eda. In other words, exploiting Vaca Muerta could tackle some of Argentina\u2019s pressing problems. But the window of opportunity is closing fast amid the climate crisis, and the country\u2019s commitments to confronting it.

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