President Alberto Fernández and Vice President Cristina Kirchner on July 9 ceremonially open the pipeline now moving natural gas north from the Vaca Muerta shale formation in Patagonia. Officials say the gas will serve as a transitional fuel as the country develops its renewable-energy resources. (Photo by Argentine President’s Office)
Argentina will speed its energy transition by boosting the share of electricity it generates from renewable sources, including hydroelectric dams, to 57% from the current 37% within seven years. In the meantime, it will tap its enormous shale oil and gas reserves as a bridging strategy. So says the National Energy Transition Plan to 2030, a policy blueprint issued in July by the government of President Alberto Fernández. The plan has won praise for fixing energy targets that track the country’s climate goals. But it has also drawn some criticism for lacking broad participation in its drafting and for relying on fossil-fuel development, mainly of natural gas, to help propel the transition. A question looming over the plan is how to cover its estimated US$86.6 billion price tag. The nation has not seen economic growth in 12 years and is deeply in debt. The plan itself acknowledges that... [Log in to read more]
