ATCC Participated in the 2025 Forbes Energy Summit with Key Insights from President Ariel Masut

Ariel Masut, President of the Argentina–Texas Chamber of Commerce (ATCC), participated in the 2025 Forbes Energy Summit, one of the most influential gatherings for the energy sector in Argentina. The event brought together executives, consultants, and public officials to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the country’s energy landscape amid record-breaking oil and gas production.

Masut took part in the panel “Shale Oil: Between the Local Boom and the External Threat”, sharing the stage with Guillermo Murphy, Vice President of Supply Chain at Tecpetrol. Their discussion centered on a topic that dominated the summit: how to strengthen Vaca Muerta’s competitiveness in a global context marked by price volatility and uncertainty.

Both leaders agreed that Argentina has overcome its historic logistical bottleneck thanks to major export infrastructure investments, particularly VMOS (Vaca Muerta Oleoducto Sur). With evacuation capacity secured, the industry’s next big challenge shifts inward: driving efficiency and reducing costs.

“Now it’s time for the wells, and therefore, it’s time to focus on costs. In a commodity economy, scale and efficiency are what allow you to truly compete,” said Masut during the panel.

Masut highlighted the scale of the opportunity ahead: Vaca Muerta has the potential for 16,000 new wells, a figure shared earlier that morning by industry leaders. To fully capitalize on this, he stressed the need to align operational costs with international benchmarks and reduce them by approximately 30% — a target also echoed by Murphy.

The conversation also touched on long-term planning, the incorporation of new players, and the importance of transitioning from short-term decision-making to a 10–20 year strategic horizon for shale development. Both executives emphasized the need for consistent well factory–style operations and advancements in transportation infrastructure to sustain growth.

The ATCC thanks Forbes Argentina for inviting us to contribute to this high-level discussion and for providing a platform to continue strengthening the connection between the Argentine and Texan energy ecosystems.

🔗 Read the full article: https://www.forbesargentina.com/summit/los-proyectos-largo-plazo-shale-oil-vaca-muerta-n81512

🔗 Watch the panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IGhE9xbP_8