16/06/2026 18:07 - Economia
Vista aérea de un puerto energético moderno con buques metaneros y terminales de gas natural licuado en el océano Atlántico, grúas portuarias y contenedores en primer plano, atardecer con tonos dorados y naranjas reflejando en el agua, estilo fotorealista profesional.
The Adani Group, one of India's largest business conglomerates, has formally arrived in Argentina by acquiring 51% of Meridian Transportes Marítimos. This Argentine company, founded in 2023, will operate port and maritime services for the Southern Energy (SESA) project, the country's first major liquefied natural gas (LNG) export initiative.
The transaction was executed by Adani Harbour International FZCO, a subsidiary of the Indian group. The all-cash deal involves the transfer of 510,000 Class A ordinary shares and is expected to be completed within four months, according to filings with Indian stock market regulators.
A consortium integrated by:
Location: Golfo San Matías, Río Negro province
Projected Capacity: 6 million tons of LNG annually
| Concept | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Project Investment | Over USD 15 billion |
| Initial Investment (Phase 1) | USD 7 billion |
| Start of Exports | Late 2027 |
| Second Phase (MKII vessel) | 2028 |
| Operational Capacity | 27 million m³ of natural gas daily |
| First Sales Contract | USD 7 billion with SEFE (Germany) |
| Contract Duration | 8 years, 2 million tons annually |
The Argentine company Meridian Transportes Marítimos, founded in September 2023 by Jorge Samarín and his sons Lucas and Matías, holds a contract with SESA to provide six vessels for ten years. According to Infobae, these vessels do not yet exist and must be built or acquired:
Support to guide methane tankers arriving from abroad to collect LNG
Dedicated to personnel and crew transport
Assigned to logistical and operational tasks
The interest of this Asian giant in Argentina is no coincidence. India imports a large portion of its LNG from the Middle East and maintains a high dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most sensitive maritime routes for global energy trade. Recent geopolitical tensions in that region have accelerated the search for alternative suppliers.
In this context, Vaca Muerta—a vast shale gas and oil formation in Neuquén province—has begun to gain prominence in the supply plans of several Asian countries. The president of YPF, Horacio Marín, recently revealed growing interest from buyers in the region to secure future volumes of Argentine gas.
Southern Energy was one of the first projects approved under the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), a legal framework designed to attract major foreign investments. This operation adds to the advancement of Indian companies on strategic projects linked to Vaca Muerta:
While the exact amount was not revealed, industry sources estimate Adani Ports' investment is around USD 70 million. The transaction allows the Indian group to formally enter Latin America and position itself in one of Argentina's most ambitious energy projects.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
