Chubut Governor Ignacio Torres sent Irene Carrizo's nomination to the legislature for the presidency of Petrominera S.E. The proposal opens the formal process to replace Héctor Millar, who is leaving the post after nearly five years.
The file was referred to the Constitutional Affairs and Justice Committee, which must review the nomination before the full legislature can vote. The appointment is therefore not yet final.
Carrizo is a lawyer and has served since 2024 as Petrominera's statutory auditor. Her recent experience has been within the internal oversight body of a company that plays a central role in Chubut's energy and hydrocarbons policy.
Petrominera operates its own fields, participates in joint ventures and manages the PetroChubut service-station network. The presidency therefore has direct influence over production, investment and the state's role in the energy market.
The leadership change comes in a sector where oil union leader and national deputy Jorge “Loma” Ávila retains significant political influence. Ávila previously chaired Petrominera.
He has also promoted a larger role for the state company in areas left by private operators, including Restinga Alí, and has participated in investment announcements linked to the large-investment incentive regime.
Carrizo's nomination is therefore more than an administrative change. The next president will operate within a network combining executive decisions, legislative oversight, union influence and a hydrocarbons agenda shaped by new projects.
If the legislature approves the nomination, Carrizo will move from internal oversight to executive leadership of the company. The immediate next step is committee review followed by a political decision on the floor.
