Mega launches new gas processing train in Bahía Blanca, boosting Vaca Muerta output

On Friday, Mega, Argentina's largest natural‑gas‑liquids processor, inaugurated a new fractionation train at its petrochemical complex in Bahía Blanca. The first stage of the project cost about US$250 million and is part of a US$650 million investment plan to expand capacity in line with growing unconventional gas production from Vaca Muerta.

YPF President and CEO Horacio Marín attended the ceremony together with Mega CEO Tomás Córdoba, Bahía Blanca Mayor Federico Susbielles and representatives of shareholders Petrobras and Dow. The new train will increase Mega’s ability to process liquids from natural gas, allowing up to a 50 % rise in NGL production and supporting the company’s role as the main exporter of LPG, natural gasoline and ethane for the local petrochemical complex.

Mega presented a second‑stage plan under the Régimen de Incentivo para Grandes Inversiones (RIGI) worth US$360 million, targeting additional facilities in Neuquén, Río Negro, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. The expansion aims to add more than 500 000 tonnes of NGLs per year, raise total production by roughly 27 %, with about 80 % destined for export markets.