Southern Energy consortium awarded Víctor Contreras-Sicim the construction of the San Matías pipeline linking Vaca Muerta to Río Negro's coast for LNG exports. Techint lost this key bid again, after being excluded from pipe supply earlier in 2026. The winning bid totaled USD 533 million for assembly and USD 96 million for a compressor plant.
Southern Energy consortium, comprising Pan American Energy, YPF, Pampa Energía, Harbour Energy, and Golar LNG, unanimously selected the Víctor Contreras-Sicim joint venture after a digital bidding process with envelopes opened before a public notary, sources confirmed to Perfil.
The San Matías Pipeline project involves laying 471 kilometers of 36-inch diameter pipe from Tratayén in Neuquén to the Golfo San Matías in Río Negro. The UTE offered the lowest price among five competitors, requiring no advance payment, ensuring fit-for-purpose operability, and providing superior reinsurance guarantees.
Techint, which reached the final round alongside the Italian-Argentine firm, bid USD 85 million more for the assembly. Separately, the 46,000 HP intermediate compressor plant went to Oilfield Production Services (OPS), outbidding Pecom, BTU, and Contreras with better guarantees and payment terms.
This marks Techint's second major loss on the project: early in 2026, India's Welspun won the pipe supply with a 40% cheaper offer.
