"Argentina va a usar YPF para buscar petróleo en las islas Falkland (sic)". Este es el título del diario conservador británico The Daily Telegraph de hoy, tras alertar que el Gobierno argentino se encamina a una nueva colisión con Gran Bretaña.
El diario destaca que la reestatizada YPF está armando un equipo con la compañía petrolera venezolana PDVSA. Se apoyan en las declaraciones del presidente de esa compañía, Rafael Ramírez Carreño, al diario Página 12. Allí sostuvo que están en discusiones sobre la necesidad de explorar por gas y petróleo en el territorio y las zonas off shore adyacentes a las Malvinas, pero que deben "analizar costos y calendario".
El ejecutivo admitió que había hablado con el actual presidente de YPF, Miguel Galuccio, en Buenos Aires. Pero reconoció proceder con "cautela", después de la advertencia de Repsol a compañías que se asocien con YPF, luego de su expropiación. Según Ramírez Carreño, este proyecto es el resultado de "joint- ventures" entre Argentina y Venezuela.
"Los movimientos argentinos amenazan con antagonizar el Gobierno británico en el 30 aniversario de la guerra que ambos pelearon sobre las islas Falkland (sic)", dijo el diario británico.
El Gobierno argentino envió una carta a 15 bancos británicos y americanos amenazando con acciones legales por asesorar y financiar compañías que exploran petróleo alrededor de las Islas.
En un informe que entregó por escrito al Congreso, el jefe de Gabinete, Juan Manuel Abal Medina, informó oficialmente sobre un estudio sísmico y geológico contratado por ENARSA a partir del cuál el Gobierno llamaría a una licitación para la explotación de áreas petroleras en el Atlántico Sur.
Argentina 'to use YPF to search for Falkland Islands oil'
telegraph.co.ukState-controlled YPF, formerly owned by Spain's Repsol, is teaming up with Venezuelan oil giant PDVSA to explore the area.
"We discussed the need for oil and gas exploration in the territory and offshore areas, adjacent to the Falklands, but we have to analyze the costs and time," PDVSA president Rafael Ramirez Carreno told Argentine newspaper Pagina12.
The executive said he spoke with the president of YPF, Miguel Galuccio, in Buenos Aires last Wednesday.
Argentina's move threatens to further antagonise the UK government on the 30th anniversary of the war the two fought over the Falkland Islands.
Earlier this year the Argentine government sent a letter to 15 British and American banks threatening them with legal action for advising companies exploring for oil around the islands.
The British government tabled a White Paper in June officially pledging to defend the islands and declared there would be "no weakening" in the country's resolve.
Mr Carreno said the prospective investments are the result of joint-ventures in Venezuela between the two South American countries.
"We have a field in the [Venezuelan] Orinoco [Heavy-Oil] Belt, which produces 130,000 barrels a day," he said. "We will increase that production to 160,000 barrels and develop another field, which would produce another 200,000 barrels."
The Orinoco Belt is an area of 21,357 square miles (55,314 square kilometers) in the east of the country that has some 235,000m barrels in proven reserves.
However, Mr Carreno added that Venezuela is "proceeding with caution" after a warning by Repsol to companies that partner with YPF after the expropriation of its shares.
"We reserve the right to take legal action against any investor in YPF or its assets that have been illegally expropriated from Repsol," company spokesman Kristian Rix told AFP in April, without elaborating.
"Repsol should think carefully before attempting to attack YPF," Mr Carreno countered. "We are not threatening anybody. What we are doing is being consistent with our approach, and we are not going to trample over the Argentine company."
Argentina announced in April it was taking control of YPF, seizing a 51pc stake from Repsol, a decision cheered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
The prospect of an Argentine-Venezeula move into Falklands exploration came as a US company prepared to move into the area for the first time.
Noble Energy, a Texas based exploration and production group, is buying interests in licences held by Falklands Oil and Gas off the islands’ northern and southern coasts.
Over the next three years Noble estimates it will be investing between $180m-$230m to develop its interests.
