Adriana Patricia Hernández Bueno
Industrial Cybersecurity & OT Governance Specialist | Ecopetrol

JUNE 1 - 4, 2026
HILTON HOTEL BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Industrial Cybersecurity Best Practices Exchange talks
Industrial Cybersecurity & OT Governance Specialist | Ecopetrol
4th Edition | 2026 - Optimized hybrid format
Vaca Muerta could become a driving force for regional energy integration, according to the report Opportunities for the Development of Gas in Latin America and the Caribbean, presented on Tuesday at the ARPEL Conference 2026.
The world is looking to Latin America. At the opening of the Arpel 2026 Conference, international experts and industry leaders agreed that the region is experiencing a historic window of opportunity to become the new global energy engine and haven in an uncertain market.
In an international context shaped by geopolitical tensions and structural changes in energy markets, Arpel Conference 2026 will focus on three key themes that are currently defining the direction of the sector in Latin America and the Caribbean
Leaders of regional energy associations warned that the main barrier to attracting investment is not the global environment, but rather the lack of predictability, competitiveness, and domestic consensus, at a time when Latin America’s energy potential has yet to translate into sustained development. The remarks were made during the third day of the ARPEL Conference 2026 in Buenos Aires.
Latin America and the Caribbean hold abundant underdeveloped natural gas resources that, if effectively developed and monetised, can provide multiple benefits to the region and world. Despite this potential, Latin America and the Caribbean account for a relatively small share of global natural gas production (approximately 5%). From a supply-side perspective, the monetisation of the region’s natural gas reserves can drive economic growth, strengthen the trade balance through higher exports and reduced imports, and support social development by expanding access to cleaner, more affordable and reliable energy.