In force since Jul 22, 2026
Hydrocarbons: the pre-export local offer falls
SE Res. 166/2026 (Official Gazette, Jul 22, 2026)
in forceNATIONAL
Energy and natural resources
Derives from: Energy: free export of hydrocarbons and gas
Res. SE 166/2026 repeals 241/17: exporting crude, diesel, propane or butane no longer requires offering it first to the local supply chain.
The other rules on this subject43
The State reorders the trunk gas pipelines and forces firm transportation contracts to be redrawnRes. SE 66/2026 (Official Gazette, Mar 13, 2026) + Res. ENARGAS 409/2026in execution
The State puts 16 high-voltage works out to tender, and six of them run through four of the five provincesRes. SE 202/2026 (Official Gazette, Aug 12, 2026), the Plan's first workin execution
What changed and who it applies to
What changed
The Energy Secretariat repeals Resolución 241/17, which required exporters of crude oil, gasoline, diesel, propane and butane to first publish a sale offer for the product aimed at the entire authorized domestic trade chain (with no discriminatory conditions, allowing full or partial purchase) before they could export it. In its place it creates the 'Export Operations Registry', where the export notification, any objections raised, and the Free Export Certificate are filed, with the detailed procedure set out in Annex IF-2026-67983213-APN-SSH#MEC. verif Jul 22, 2026 ↗
In force
Took effect on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette: 07/22/2026. verif Jul 22, 2026 ↗
Who it applies to
Producers, refiners and traders of crude oil, gasoline, diesel, and propane/butane (LPG) that export. It removes a prior step (domestic sale offer) that could delay or condition closing an export deal; the new procedure is a registry (notification + Free Export Certificate), not a discretionary prior authorization. verif Jul 22, 2026 ↗
The norm
Resolución 166/2026 of the Secretaría de Energía (Ministry of Economy) (RESOL-2026-166-APN-SE#MEC), signed on Jul 20, 2026 and published in the Boletín Oficial on Jul 22, 2026 (notice 344761). It implements, on the export side, Decreto 1057/2024 (Ley Bases 27.742, Hydrocarbons and Natural Gas regime). verif Jul 22, 2026 ↗
Our reading
This is the operational rule that the parent decree (1057/2024) called on us to watch for — and it confirms the thesis rather than contradicting it: instead of reintroducing a barrier, the Energy Secretariat removes the last remnant of intervention over crude and product exports (the prior offer to domestic buyers) and replaces it with a simple registry. One more step in the same direction: exporting hydrocarbons no longer depends on a discretionary procedure (R4 · opening and deregulation). thesis
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Where it lands, province by province1
Neuquén Less administrative friction to export Vaca Muerta's crude oil and light products: the prior domestic-offer step (a potential commercial delay or condition) is replaced by a simple registry, in line with the free-export regime consolidated by Decreto 1057/2024. favorable opening and deregulation thesis
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Analysis and curation: Ignacio Aredez
Head of Despegue
Method and track record →- 20+ years in technology, 15 of them in data and AI, for clients across Europe and the Americas
- Certified in AI governance (ISO/IEC 42001)
- Machine Learning (Google Cloud)
- Registered expert with the European Commission
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