during the cycle Democracy and development organized by Clarin, the Secretary of Energy, Flavia Royonhe warned that the government has “urgency” to exploit “a window of opportunity” in terms of hydrocarbons and renewable energy because at some point these windows “close”.
The national official referred to the recent application of tariff segmentation, which he considered “It is not an isolated measure”.
In that sense, he said that companies already know which customers lose their subsidies: “The data has already passed, the pricing tables have already been published. More than the removal of the subsidies, a fairer system has been implemented. It wasn’t easy and it’s not easy. It is the first time that this data has been taken from the connection of a meter with the income level in order to be able to redistribute it “.
“It will be a construction. We are working so that this can be perfected, so that we can move forward with the education campaign on efficiency and energy saving,” he said.
And he added: “It is an extra measure in what we understand and share the diagnosis that Argentina has a situation in which it is difficult for the country to grow and there are investments because the restriction of dollars also affects imports. I am no investment and growth unable to solve this problem.
Royón assured that the country “needs to stabilize its macroeconomy” and exclaimed that it must be “ordered for this sector that if it does not receive investments it is not being maintained, it is shrinking”.
“Today we are at a turning point. An opportunity opens up for Argentina. Vaca Muerte today has a maturity and we can say that it is not a potential, it is a reality with levels of productivity at the level of the United States,” he remarked.
“We have a window of opportunity, not only at Vaca Muerta in terms of hydrocarbons, but also in terms of renewable energy. And those windows of opportunity are closing, so we need to be very determined. There is a sense of urgency for us to take advantage of this window of opportunity, “he said.
In addition, he insisted that Minister Sergio Massa “was clear in giving signals and what those measures are, how to start talking about a tax measure, normalize subsidies, and regularize the situation that those who can pay do not receive the subsidy from the State “.
And he stressed the importance of having the necessary consent. In this regard, he asked “to be wise in being able to agree on these legal frameworks so that Argentina can take the leap and move to another level”.
Royón, who was Salta’s secretary for mining and energy until last month and landed in the national government last month to replace ultra-Kirchnerist Darío Martínez, was part of the fourth table called “Public Policies for energy development “.
“Infrastructure failures and budget constraints”
Royón was accompanied by the governors of Neuquén, Omar Gutiérrez, and Chubut, Mariano Arcioni; and the former area secretary Gustavo Lopetegui.
His other statements were related to “infrastructure failures and budget constraints”.
The official pointed out that work has been carried out on the plan for the pipeline network, where “strategic progress has been made, namely the construction of the Néstor Kirchner pipeline, and we have planned how the growth will be after this pipeline so that the lines reach the different points of the country and can supply the Argentines and industry “.
“The same thing happens in terms of planning for the development of renewable energy. Argentina has renewable energy potential and lacks infrastructure. We are working on this planning, together with the provinces, “she added.
And he warned:We have budget limits. The idea is to have a structured and planned growth “.
As for the regulatory frameworks, he said “one is needed and there are projects that can be milestones like liquefied gas”. And he added: “Even in terms of hydrogen, we need a legal framework”.
In this sense, he noted that “it is a factor common to many major investments that can really change the history of Argentina in terms of export growth and import substitution”.
He insisted that Massa “has given his first steps and clear signals on issues affecting investors, a framework of legal security and access to foreign currency”.
energy transition
Asked if the measures applied at the beginning of his administration were overdue, Royón replied: “This question fuels a lack of consensus. Whether there are cracks or not. Today the world has changed and is taking a decisive step in the energy transition. “. .
“It is an opportunity for Argentina. We have gas, the first step in the energy transition. We can sell all our gas to those countries that still use coal,” explained the minister.
He specified that “the energy transition requires at least 5 times more minerals than conventional ones”. He added: “We are talking about lithium, copper, silver, gold. And this sector is part of the macroeconomic problems. It is late, no. It is appropriate”.
“Today the world context offers us an incredible opportunity to exploit its resources and turn them into wealth,” he stressed.
And he concluded: “All these investment projects change the local reality because they always operate within a framework of environmental and social sustainability. People must know that they are sectors that generate workforce and employment where there is no informality and where there is more than the average salary.
News in development
Source: Clarin
