Mendoza’s Ministry of Energy and Environment held the public opening of Envelope A submissions for the national and international tender covering 17 hydrocarbon areas located in the Cuyo and Neuquén basins. The formal procedure was conducted under strict transparency standards, ensuring full traceability, document safeguarding, and regulatory compliance.
Minister of Energy and Environment Jimena Latorre led the ceremony and highlighted the strategic importance of the process.
“Today we have proceeded with the submission of offers and the opening of Envelope A filings in the tender for the award of exploration and production areas in both the Cuyo and Neuquén basins. This represents a major milestone for Mendoza, as it aligns with our objective of increasing production and adding new players to the province’s oil and gas development,” Latorre stated.
Six companies submitted the required documentation at this stage to remain in the bidding process.
A Positive Signal in a Complex Market
Minister Latorre emphasized the broader context in which the tender was launched.
“In a challenging environment, the level of interest in this call for bids is a positive signal. It reflects both the potential of our hydrocarbon areas and the consistency of our energy policies, which are designed to provide predictability, clear rules, and real investment conditions,” she said.
She was joined by Undersecretary of Energy and Mining Manuel Sánchez Bandini, Director of Royalties Jorge Domínguez, and Director of Hydrocarbons Lucas Erio, all members of the Awarding Committee.
“The offers will now be analyzed by the technical teams of the Directorate of Hydrocarbons. Based on compliance with the requirements established in the bidding documents and the feasibility of the proposals, the awardees will be determined. Those companies will have the opportunity to move forward with investments aimed at further increasing Mendoza’s oil production,” Latorre added.
Director of Hydrocarbons Lucas Erio noted that nine bidding documents were sold to eight companies in the weeks leading up to the submission deadline, underscoring strong market interest despite a demanding national and international context.
“This call confirms that conventional oil and gas still has significant potential. There are real opportunities both to reactivate mature fields and to promote complementary exploration with a short- and medium-term technical focus,” Erio said.
During the ceremony, all submitted documentation, digital media, and the number of Envelope B filings were formally recorded. The Envelope B submissions were sealed and placed in a secure ballot box under the custody of the Government Notary’s Office until the formal opening of that stage.
Evaluation Phase Begins
The next stage involves verifying admissibility and qualification requirements. Authorities will review each company’s legal standing, financial solvency, minimum net worth, and technical capacity. Only those bidders that fully comply with Envelope A requirements will be invited to participate in the public opening of Envelope B.
A Consolidated and Modern Bidding Framework
This tender represents another step in a modern, traceable, and continuous bidding model designed to align with industry dynamics. The framework aims to improve administrative efficiency, accelerate processing times, and reduce unnecessary bureaucratic steps.
The 2026 call builds upon the process initiated in 2024 and expanded in 2025, when five areas—three exploration blocks and two production blocks—were awarded with multi-year investment commitments.
“Together, these two consecutive bidding rounds marked a structural shift in provincial hydrocarbon policy. After the previous call had taken place in 2019, Mendoza successfully consolidated two tenders in two consecutive years, creating sustained opportunities under clear rules and streamlined procedures,” Erio emphasized.
Areas Included in the Tender
The 17 hydrocarbon areas included in this national and international tender are:
- Atuel Exploración Sur (Neuquén Basin)
- Atuel Exploración Norte (Neuquén Basin)
- Boleadero (Neuquén Basin)
- Calmuco (Neuquén Basin)
- Chachahuen Norte (Neuquén Basin)
- CN III Norte (Neuquén Basin)
- Los Parlamentos (Neuquén Basin)
- Puesto Pozo Cercado Occidental (Cuyo Basin)
- Ranquil Norte (Neuquén Basin)
- Río Atuel (Neuquén Basin)
- Sierra Azul Sur (Neuquén Basin)
- Zampal (Cuyo Basin)
- Atamisqui (Cuyo Basin)
- El Manzano (Neuquén Basin)
- Loma Cortaderal – Cerro Doña Juana (Neuquén Basin)
- Puesto Molina Norte (Neuquén Basin)
- Puntilla del Huincan (Neuquén Basin)
Companies That Submitted Documentation
Six companies submitted Envelope A documentation at this stage:
- Venoil S.A.
- Ingeniería Multipiping S.A.S.
- Hattrick Energy S.A.S.
- Geopetrol Drilling S.A.
- Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia S.A.
- Petróleos Sudamericanos S.A.
The process now moves into the technical and financial evaluation phase, reinforcing Mendoza’s strategy of strengthening oil and gas development through transparent, competitive, and investment-oriented policies.