INSTITUTIONAL NEWS

Argentine President visited the Y-TEC building in its latest stage of construction

Accompanied by Salvarezza and Sacerdote, the President spoke to the scientists and the workers at the plant.


President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner visited the works that belong to the latest stage of the new Y-TEC Scientific and Technological Centre, the technology company created in 2013 by YPF and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). The objective of this centre is to provide technological solutions to the energy sector and train specialists for the development of the national hydrocarbon industry. The president of the CONICET, Roberto Salvarezza; YPF general director, Santiago Sacerdote; YPF president, Miguel Galuccio, and Lino Baraño, the minister of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation participated in the visit.

“Together with Bolivia and Chile, we have the first lithium reserve in the world. Lithium is a nonconventional energy we export in its crude state. We need to add value to it”, said the President and added: “I spoke to the scientists about the challenge lying in the lithium batteries, which are the future. I do not want crude lithium; I want it turned into an added value product to be used in computers, cell phones and electric vehicles. This is what we are doing in Argentina.”

“We have to defend all Argentine developments because they do not belong to this government, neither to YPF nor to Y-TEC, they belong to the 42 millions of Argentines”, the President said. “We should not let our researchers leave to other countries due to lack of investment or political measures.”

For his part, Sacerdote commented: “We are in the largest, most modern, and best equipped building to produce I+D (research plus development). This is a great commitment for national technological development and we are adding the best scientists of the country. This building is the hub of a network of spaces for innovation that integrate CONICET institutes and national universities.”

The aim of the this new plant is to increase the production of petrol and diesel oil, obtaining 190 millions of litres of petrol and a thousand millions of additional diesel oil per year. The President visited the new facilities located in Avenida del Petróleo Argentino (av. 60 s/n entre 129 y 143), in Berisso, province of Buenos Aires, and spoke to the workers. The plant is one of the most complex of South America and one of the most important assets of Argentina.

The new premises have 12 thousand square metres covered and it will host 350 employees in 60 laboratories, and 12 pilot plants that include two engine rooms. The place, which is going to be entirely working in June 2016, is the icon of science and innovation for the growth of national energy industry because researchers are going to study subjects related to industry, oil and gas.

It is worth mentioning that a 51% shareholding belongs to Y-TEC and 49% to the CONICET. With 140 professionals who recently have been incorporated and more than 100 people collaborating in their projects directly from other institutions, Y-TEC is growing and strengthening its research and development capabilities.

Y-TEC research focuses on seven areas: unconventional resources, mature fields, gas, refining and petrochemicals, new energies, environmental sustainability and technologies for value chain.