BUENOS AIRES, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Argentine natural gas producer Pampa Energia announced a debt issuance of $410 million on Friday, signaling investor confidence in the company as it expands operations in the country's Vaca Muerta shale formation.

The development of the massive shale deposit, where competitors including state-owned YPF and Vista Energy are also pumping in new investments, is a bright spot amid the South American nation's ongoing economic crisis marked by triple-digit inflation.

Pampa's new debt issuance will come due in 2031 and was placed with a coupon of 7.95%, the company said in a statement.

The firm is the third-largest gas producer in western Argentina's Neuquen basin, home to Vaca Muerta, one of the world's largest shale oil and gas reserves.

Argentina hopes greater investment in Vaca Muerta can increase domestic production, boosting exports and reversing a long-running energy deficit in large part caused by costly crude and natural gas imports.

Pampa's activity in Vaca Muerta covers about 8% of the formation's total area, and over 90% of its current output is natural gas.

The debt issue will enable it to finance the development of the Rincon de Aranda shale oil field, according to the statement.

The oversubscribed tender, which included interest from international investment funds, received bids for more than $1.7 billion.

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https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/argentinas-pampa-energia-raises-410-mln-through-debt-issuance-2024-09-06/