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SLB Rules Out Malvinas Work After Argentine Decree

Decreto 868/26 gives Cancillería fast enforcement powers under Law 26.659, raising legal pressure on suppliers and threatening the support network for offshore projects.

Overview

  • SLB’s Argentine unit said on Saturday that it will not take part in tenders or projects in the Malvinas maritime area, citing Decreto 868/26 and saying it will comply with Argentine rules.
  • The decree, published in the Boletín Oficial, names Cancillería as the enforcing authority, requires sworn declarations to access RIGI incentives, and shortens agency reporting and response windows.
  • Argentina has opened sanction procedures against 45 people and companies for alleged involvement in unauthorized hydrocarbon activity in the Malvinas platform.
  • Sea Lion operators Navitas and Rockhopper maintain their timetable for first oil, creating a split between upstream developers who pledge to proceed and global suppliers that are distancing themselves.
  • The dispute links sovereignty politics to business risk: major suppliers’ withdrawals could affect contracts, logistics tied to VMOS and Vaca Muerta work, and the pace of offshore development.