In order to prevent the increase of energy prices and to safeguard domestic supply, at the start of the millennium the Argentinian federal government made various amendments to the legal regime regulating the exploration and production of hydrocarbons.  Such measures included the introduction of a system of regulated prices and the prohibition of exports until domestic demand had been satisfied.  Following these changes, oil and gas production and exports declined and Argentina has subsequently had to manage a reduction in its energy self-sufficiency as fuel imports have increased.

Following months of extensive negotiations in 2014 between the federal government, the regional oil-producing provinces, YPF and other key members of the private oil and gas sector in Argentina, the Argentinian Congress passed a new law amending its hydrocarbon regulatory framework (the “New Hydrocarbon Law”). 

The New Hydrocarbon Law was officially published by the Federal Register on 31 October 2014 with the aim of creating incentives to encourage long-term foreign investment in the oil and gas sector, with the ultimate aim of boosting both conventional and (particularly) unconventional exploration and production.

The principal elements of the New Hydrocarbon Law are as follows:

• National bidding process: A single national tender process will now apply to all oil-producing regions in a move away from the previous regionally fragmented model.  Under the new bidding process, concessions will be awarded to the most suitable bid (based on the level of investment and exploration activities proposed by  the concessionaire).

• Duration of exploration period:  The duration of an exploration permit will now      depend on the type of prospect that is targeted:

• in respect of a conventional resource the maximum term of an exploration permit is 11 years; and

• in respect of an unconventional resource the maximum term is 13 years.

In addition, the previous prohibition on a company holding more than five exploration permits has been removed and the acreage relinquishment requirements that apply during the term of an exploration permit have been reduced.

• Duration of exploitation period:  The exploitation period under a concession has been extended based on the type of the resource concerned, being:

• 35 years in the case of unconventional resources;

• 30 years in respect of offshore resources; and

• 25 years in respect of onshore conventional resources.

In addition, concessionaires may request multiple extensions up to a maximum period of 10 years (irrespective of whether they obtained their concession before or after the implementation of the New Hydrocarbon Law).