Argentina’s natural gas pipeline offering additional takeaway capacity from the Vaca Muerta shale formation went into service earlier this month.

The Gasoducto Presidente Néstor Kirchner pipeline was built in 10 months, “record time,” the Energy Secretariat said. Capacity on the pipeline is 25 Mm3/d. The line stretches from the town of Tratayén in Neuquén province to Salliqueló in Buenos Aires province.

“Vaca Muerta gas is much more competitive and up to six times cheaper than imported gas, on top of containing, in every molecule, the work and industry of Argentina,” energy secretary Flavia Royon said.

Following the pipeline coming online, Royon last week presented a bill to the nation’s congress that would promote LNG exports. It would also declare any...