Petrobras Imports First Vaca Muerta Gas to Brazil via Bolivia

October 06, 2025

Petrobras and Pluspetrol have completed their first import of unconventional natural gas from Argentina’s Vaca Muerta formation into Brazil, signaling a new phase of regional energy cooperation and supply diversification.

Petrobras and Pluspetrol have executed the first-ever import of unconventional natural gas volumes from Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale play, located in the Neuquén Basin. The pilot shipment—totaling 100,000 cubic meters—was completed on October 3, 2025, under an agreement between the two companies and their subsidiaries, Petrobras Operaciones S.A. (POSA) and Gas Bridge Comercializadora.

The gas, produced jointly by POSA and Pluspetrol, was transported by pipeline from Argentina through Bolivia before entering Brazil. The operation tested the commercial and logistical framework for future imports, which could reach up to 2 million cubic meters per day under an interruptible contract. Petrobras stated that additional shipments will depend on market opportunities identified by the companies.

According to Petrobras’ Executive Director for Energy Transition and Sustainability, Angélica Laureano, the operation represents “a significant milestone made possible by the integration of infrastructure, connecting Petrobras’ own production in Argentina with the Brazilian market.” Laureano added that the initiative “opens a new pathway for gas imports into Brazil, reinforcing Petrobras’ commitment to expanding supply and fostering a sustainable natural gas market.”

Petrobras maintains upstream operations in Argentina through POSA, which holds a 33.6% non-operated interest in the Río Neuquén field across the provinces of Río Neuquén and Río Negro. Production there primarily comes from tight gas reservoirs in the Punta Rosada and Lajas formations—part of the broader Neuquén Basin that hosts the prolific Vaca Muerta play.

The pilot import underscores growing regional gas interconnectivity in South America, leveraging cross-border pipeline networks between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. For Petrobras, the move supports its strategy to diversify supply sources and strengthen Brazil’s natural gas availability amid efforts to boost domestic competitiveness and transition toward cleaner fuels.

Oilprice.com