The final weld on the VMOS pipeline, carried out in the town of Sierra Grande, in Río Negro, marks a milestone and a key step in the completion of this strategic project that will boost Argentina's energy infrastructure.

The Vaca Muerta Oil Sur (VMOS) project, which will connect the Neuquén Basin with the Atlantic Ocean, completed the last automatic weld in regular line on Saturday, November 1.

With two main sections, more than 1,500 people at peak activity, and three operational camps, VMOS is being executed with cutting-edge technologies, such as the use of a double joint plant and automatic welding systems. The latter allowed for record productivity—with up to 175 welds in a single day—and meeting the required deadlines. In addition, 76 special crossings over roads and streams were made.

From the construction site, Walter Silva, Welding Supervisor, shared his experience: "One of the biggest challenges was coordinating the logistics to build the 437 km of pipeline. Being in charge of a team of 140 people of different nationalities was very challenging, but everyone showed enormous professionalism, and we managed to work with the harmony necessary to achieve the objective. I am left with the satisfaction of knowing that we did a great job."

According to Alejo Calcagno, Senior Director of Operations - South Region at Techint E&C: “This milestone marks the beginning of the final stretch of a project that mobilized hundreds of regional suppliers and has a direct impact on the economy of southern communities, strengthening the national energy infrastructure.”

Pablo Brottier, Executive Director of SACDE, concluded: “Projects like this reflect the constant growth in execution capacity that we have developed at UT in recent years, both in human and technical aspects, as well as in the incorporation of technology, the development of suppliers, and the logistical and operational management of large complex projects.”

The project, which is part of the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), envisages an initial transport capacity of 180,000 barrels per day from the end of 2026, with the possibility of scaling up to 550,000 barrels per day in 2027.