Wildlife experts are raising alarms over plans to build Argentina's largest crude oil export port on the Valdés peninsula in Patagonia, a Unesco world heritage site and haven for marine life. The project, led by state-run YPF along with Shell and Chevron, includes a 437km pipeline from the Neuquén basin to Punta Colorada, capable of transporting 550,000 barrels per day by 2027. A storage facility holding 4m barrels and a tanker docking every five days are also planned.
María Leoní Gaffet, co-director of Península Valdés Orca Research, described the area as 'a treasure chest of wildlife' and warned that the ecosystem could be lost. The San Matías Gulf, bordering protected areas including Islote Lobos national park, hosts the world's largest colony of Magellanic penguins, southern right whales, orcas, and sea lions. Opponents fear catastrophic consequences from oil spills, increased maritime traffic, and industrial noise pollution.
Marine biologist María Raquel Perrier noted that oil ports are 'inherently dirty' and that even microspills can deprive water of oxygen, killing vulnerable species. She highlighted Argentina's poor spill response, citing a recent incident where fishers reported the sea turning black. Whale-watching operator Diana Visintini warned of collision risks, pointing to scars on whales from propellers and studies linking tanker collisions to population declines in similar species.
Since taking office in 2023, President Javier Milei has dismantled environmental protections, abolished the environment ministry, and threatened to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. Local residents and fishers, like Sergio Fernández, feel excluded from the debate and fear for their livelihoods and health. Teacher Cecilia Salcedo envisions 'a sea they can’t swim in; a sea that’s privatised, taken over by corporations.' The pipeline is due to enter service in late 2026.
