Santa Cruz oil production halted by indefinite union strike

Hydrocarbon production in Santa Cruz, Argentina, has been halted due to an indefinite general strike called by the Union of Oil, Private Gas and Renewable Energies (SIPGER). Led by secretary general Rafael Güenchenen, the union is protesting staff reductions, contract cancellations, and disinvestment by operating and contracting firms.

The strike follows a refusal by Patagonia Resources to reinstate displaced workers, leading to blockades at production sites. Additionally, the union has called on YPF to accelerate environmental remediation and the sealing of inactive wells, requesting that local labor be used to absorb affected workers.

In a separate development regarding regional activity, a CGC drilling rig has arrived in the province to operate in Tres Picos, Cañadón León. The union stated that this deployment is the result of months of negotiations intended to restore operational rhythm and provide job continuity for workers who had been on standby for over a year.