As part of the Latin American and Caribbean Student Symposium (LACSS 2026), organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), students from the SPE–ESPOL Student Chapter participated in a technical visit to YPF’s La Plata Industrial Complex (CILP), located in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The event took place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and brought together students from various countries in the region.
The delegation consisted of Francis Patricio Cabrera Tonato, Paula Antonella Rojas Morla, Sebastián David Chiquito Puno, Diana Carolina Noboa Mora, and Esther Abigail Guananga Guananga, members of the SPE–ESPOL Student Chapter. The team was accompanied by Andrés Guzmán, M.Sc., Faculty Advisor for the SPE–ESPOL Student Chapter and professor in the Petroleum Engineering program at ESPOL’s Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT).
The purpose of the visit was to complement the participants’ academic training through direct observation of industrial processes associated with the processing and refining of hydrocarbons. During the tour, the students explored part of the complex’s facilities and learned about various operational processes related to crude oil refining and the production of petroleum products.
The La Plata Industrial Complex is considered one of the most important refining complexes in South America and has an approximate refining capacity of 210,000 barrels per day. In addition, it has the capacity to process different varieties of crude oil produced in Argentina and to produce a wide range of refined products.
The activity helped strengthen students’ practical understanding of concepts covered in the Petroleum Engineering program and exposed them to industrial environments with advanced technological and operational capabilities. It also provided an international learning and academic exchange experience as part of one of the region’s most significant student events in the energy sector.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, through the strengthening of professional skills related to the energy and industrial sectors.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, by promoting applied learning in industrial and technological refining processes.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through participation in international forums for academic exchange and student cooperation.
