Natural gas will be a vital energy source for many countries well beyond 2050, the energy minister said during a trip to Japan, from which some new long-term LNG deals could emerge.

Controversial libertarian Javier Milei is the favorite to win Argentina’s upcoming presidential elections after topping last month’s primary. Milei promises to liberalize the economy, including dollarizing, re-privatizing YPF and eliminating price and export controls. Center-left Sergio Massa, the incumbent finance minister, and center-right Patricia Bullrich are the other main candidates and are making moves to broaden their appeal ahead of the vote. If Milei wins, he faces an uphill battle due to jittery financial markets and opposition control of Congress and the judicial system. As a result, political risks and uncertainty are rising, which could potentially weigh on investment in the domestic oil and gas sector.