Energy (Re)territorializations in Neuquén, Argentina
Redibujando la frontera energética en Argentina
Résumé
From the 19th century on, the exploration of Patagonian territories has made it possible to move forward in pioneering fronts to exploit natural resources. Throughout the 20th century, in those peripheral spaces, the national state has been building a power frontier to integrate to the country. Industrializing natural gas and oil has favored the specialization and internationalization of Neuquen’s basin. Transnational corporations have been participating from the beginning of hydrocarbon mining, and non-conventional hydrocarbon extracting, in association with State-owned YPF (Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales), who has led their exploration and production. Those new dynamics in Patagonian spaces lead (re)territorialization processes. The speed and extent of changes, and the uncertainty in international power markets open a question mark about how to build welfare for affected populations and territories, face to the new Patagonian horizon.
