PERSPECTIVES, NEGOTIATIONS AND DILEMMAS IN THE TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN YACIMIENTOS PETROLÍFEROS FISCALES BOLIVIANOS (YPFB) AND YACIMIENTOS PETROLÍFEROS FISCALES (YPF), 1937-1945

Abstract

These research notes present a study about the linkages established between two state oil companies in South America, YPFB and YPF, in a few decades marked by economic, energy and political problems in Bolivia and Argentina. Founded in the image and likeness of YPF (Argentina entity created in 1922), state oil company vertically integrated, the YPFB (Bolivian entity created in 1936) developed from its origins several strategies to link in the technical, production, transportation and distribution of fuel, with the Argentinian YPF. The article provides specific information elements about connections, dealings, agreements and negotiations, dynamics, instruments and priorities, explaining its context and reasons. Moreover, this text explores the plot of negotiations between state oil companies, in order to clarify an earlier history of the most recent experiences of international interaction of state companies in the frame of energetical integration processes. It is proposed that the interaction between the two YPFs was ephemeral, because their agenda was overtaken by the favourable opportunities offered by cooperation within the framework of hemispheric programs, by agencies of the U.S. government.