India’s Welspun Corp has secured a $200 million contract to supply pipes for Argentina’s Vaca Muerta project, outbidding Techint by nearly 40 percent. The decision has stirred controversy, with Techint weighing an anti-dumping complaint, while Welspun’s diverse global businesses highlight its growing industrial footprint.
Argentina’s energy sector witnessed a sharp turn as Welspun Corp, an Indian industrial giant, clinched the contract to supply pipes for the Vaca Muerta pipeline. The project, spanning nearly 500 kilometers, will connect shale gas reserves to the Río Negro coast for LNG exports. Techint, Argentina’s homegrown heavyweight, lost the bid despite its long-standing presence in the region.
Key Highlights
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Welspun Corp is a leading global manufacturer of line pipes, offering end-to-end solutions across sizes from 1½ inches to 143 inches.
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The company operates in over 50 countries, with manufacturing facilities in India, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.
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Welspun’s portfolio extends beyond oil and gas pipelines to ductile iron pipes, water infrastructure solutions, and ESG-driven initiatives for carbon neutrality.
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Techint argued that Welspun’s bid may rely on Chinese-origin inputs and exclude full import costs, raising concerns of unfair competition.
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Argentina’s government defended the choice, citing competitiveness and lower project costs as critical to ensuring affordable energy prices.
Sources: Particle News, La Nación, Welspun Corp official site