Trafigura, Oldelval Open $30 Million Pipeline to Bahía Blanca Refinery in Argentina
Trafigura and Oldelval inaugurated a new 6.8-mile (11-kilometer) crude oil pipeline linking Oldelval’s Allen–Puerto Rosales system to the Bahía Blanca refinery, expanding export capacity for Argentina’s Vaca Muerta basin.
BUENOS AIRES (P&GJ) — Oleoductos del Valle (Oldelval) and Trafigura have inaugurated a new crude oil pipeline connecting Oldelval’s Allen–Puerto Rosales trunk line to Trafigura’s Bahía Blanca refinery, strengthening Argentina’s export infrastructure for production from the Vaca Muerta formation.
The 14-inch (36-centimeter) diameter, 6.8-mile (11-kilometer) pipeline represents an investment of more than $30 million and was designed to enhance the reliability of the national crude transport network. The project aims to provide an additional outlet to the Atlantic, increasing operational flexibility and boosting the Neuquén Basin’s export capacity.
The inauguration ceremony took place at Oldelval’s Autonomous Measurement Unit (UAM) facility in Bahía Blanca. Attendees included executives from both companies and local officials, including representatives from the Bahía Blanca Port Management Consortium and the city’s production department.
“This project began to take shape in 2020 and is now a reality thanks to the commitment, planning, and collaborative work between the private sector and the government,” said Ricardo Hosel, CEO of Oldelval. “The initiative reinforces the commitment to an integrated, competitive, and efficient basin for transporting crude oil to the Atlantic.”
Gerardo Zmijak, Trafigura’s commercial director, highlighted the project’s impact on refinery reliability and its role in opening new transportation routes for Vaca Muerta crude through the Port of Bahía Blanca. “This pipeline strengthens the refinery’s operations and provides a vital new outlet for crude exports,” he said.
The companies said the new connection consolidates their strategic partnership and supports industrial and logistical development in Bahía Blanca and the surrounding region.