Argentina faces gas shortages and sand transport bottlenecks hampering energy output

Argentina is confronting a domestic gas shortage as winter demand surged, prompting curtailments for industrial users and prompting officials to urge families to rely on heating rather than gas. The shortage is attributed to limited transport capacity, unfinished pipeline projects, and reliance on costly LNG imports supplied by private firms such as Trafigura. The gas crisis has affected thousands of households and raised concerns over price hikes.

At the same time, the shale play in Vaca Muerta is limited by the logistics of sand, a key fracking material. Demand for sand could rise to 10‑12 million tonnes by 2030, but existing road transport from Entre Ríos quarries is a bottleneck. Proposals to use multimodal routes involving trucks, barges and rail face high cost and long‑term investment challenges, while port infrastructure is seen as the primary constraint.

Both issues highlight infrastructure gaps that threaten Argentina’s energy sector growth and the government's broader economic strategy.