Argentina's Energy Secretariat simplifies hydrocarbon export rules and LPG station licensing

The Argentine Secretariat of Energy issued Resolution 166/2026, creating a new Procedure for Export of Liquid Hydrocarbons and Derivatives. The rule removes the previous requirement to publish a domestic sale offer, establishes strict clearance windows of 7 or 30 days depending on the product, and introduces a single Export Operations Registry to track notifications, objections and export authorisations. State intervention is limited to exceptional technical or economic objections linked to domestic supply security.

In the same reform package, Resolution 180/2026 replaces the need for municipal habilitation documents with a sworn declaration for operators of automotive LPG stations. The change is intended to accelerate private investment, eliminate duplicated paperwork and maintain local safety, health and environmental controls, with municipal or provincial authorisation still required where law mandates it. The measures are part of a broader deregulation effort under Decrees 70/2023 and 90/2025, aiming to give logistical predictability, improve competitiveness and support the expansion of LPG stations without subsidies.