Country Overview
The South American country of the Argentine Republic is bordered by Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, and the Atlantic Ocean. The population of Argentina is approximately 45.77 million people.
In 2022, Argentina’s economy was ranked 22nd in the world in gross domestic product (GDP). The country’s economy is dependent on the export of corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, delivery trucks, wheat, nuts, and bran.
Environmental Policies
In 2016, Argentina signed the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to an unconditional 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to business as usual projections.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, 100% of the people in Argentina had access to electricity. In 2022, utilities used natural gas (56.2%), renewable energy (31.4%), oil (5.3%),nuclear (5.2%), and coal (1.9%) to generate electricity in Argentina. Hydropower and wind are the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Argentina.
Recent renewable energy developments in Argentina include:
- 155 MW Wind Project – Argentinian energy company, Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF) is continuing work on the General Levalle wind park at a site approximately 400 miles northwest of the nation’s capital, Buenos Aires.
- 100 MW Solar Project – In July 2023, YPF commissioned the initial phase of the Parque Solar Zonda project in Buenos Aires.
- 100 MW Solar Project – In April 2023, YPF commissioned the initial phase of the El Zonda solar project at a site approximately 600 miles west-northwest of Buenos Aires.
- 100 MW Wind Project – Italian steel company, Tenaris is continuing work on an onshore wind project in Buenos Aires. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
- 73 MW Solar Project – State-owned Energia ProvIncial Sociedad del Estado (EPSE) is continuing work on the Tocota solar project at a site approximately620 miles northwest of Buenos Aires. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
Conclusions
Argentina imports fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for power generation, heating, and transportation. In 2021, Argentina imported U.S. $2.69 Billion for refined petroleum and U.S. $2.35 Billion for natural gas.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to place economic sanctions on Russian imports and exports. As a result, the crude oil and natural gas prices increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
Argentina is currently suffering from rampant inflation due to the government’s mismanagement of the economy and fossil fuel imports. Argentina’s inflation rate increased from 98.8% in January 2023 to 113.4% in July 2023.
Argentina has significant undeveloped renewable energy resources, including offshore wind, onshore wind, solar, biomass and hydropower. Volatile fossil fuel has caused Argentina to accelerate the development of new renewable energy projects.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jack kerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on a diverse range of energy issues.