In a speech with strong strategic and geopolitical undertones, the mayor of Río Grande, Martín Pérez , broke his silence on the energy crisis facing Tierra del Fuego. During the opening session of the City Council last Friday, the 20th, Pérez described as "tragic" the contrast between the paralysis of Tierra del Fuego's hydrocarbon industry and the unchecked advance of the British-Israeli project north of the Malvina Islands.

Energy depletion: Falling oil prices and YPF's exit

The mayor presented figures that reveal an alarming reality: in the last decade, oil production in the province fell by more than 40% , accompanied by a sustained decline in gas production and a drastic reduction in active drilling rigs.

This scenario of disinvestment is compounded by a final blow: YPF 's withdrawal from strategic areas, driven by the redefinition of Javier Milei's national government. "YPF's departure is not neutral. It impacts employment, local suppliers, and long-term planning," Pérez denounced, drawing a clear contrast with the government's inaction.

The contrast with the looting in the Malvinas

The high point of the speech was the direct link between domestic politics and the sovereignty dispute. Pérez urged the National Government and the Foreign Ministry to take "clear and decisive" actions before the international community to safeguard the resources.

This demand comes at a critical moment: while equipment is being withdrawn from Tierra del Fuego, north of the Malvina Islands, the oil company Rockhopper and its Israeli partners ( Navitas, Noked, Exodus, ION ) are securing financial backing to extract 50,000 barrels per day starting in 2028. The mayor's warning is clear: the energy weakness on the mainland and on Tierra del Fuego is the flip side of the strength of the occupation.

Investment and Ports: "Sovereignty is not proclaimed, it is exercised"

Regarding the geopolitical struggle for port infrastructure, Pérez was pragmatic and focused on national sovereignty . He defended opening the ports to private investment (whether from US or Chinese capital) but under clear rules and local decision-making. "What is unacceptable is that it isn't happening. We cannot remain trapped by external tensions that paralyze opportunities for our people," he stated, in a clear allusion to the delays affecting strategic projects in the northern region and the port of Ushuaia.

The role of Terra Ignis and provincial responsibility

The mayor also sent a direct message to Governor Gustavo Melella , demanding that the provincial company Terra Ignis abandon its role as a formal administrator to become a real promoter of investment and exploration.

For Pérez , energy is not just another resource, but a cornerstone of sovereignty that must be integrated with Río Grande, the city that concentrates the sector's logistics and workforce. "Sovereignty isn't proclaimed. It's exercised. And exercising sovereignty also means firmly deciding what investments we want," he asserted.