In the quiet town of Añelo, Argentina, mechanic Fabio Javier Jiménez’s family tyre shop tells a story of change and challenge. Once a sleepy place without water, gas, or steady electricity, Añelo has exploded with life since fracking began nearby in 2014. "We set up the tyre repair shop in the middle of the sand dunes, far from the town centre," Mr. Jiménez recalls. "Then the town grew and passed us by." Fueled by Vaca Muerta’s vast oil and gas wealth, Añelo's population shot up from 10,788 in 2010 to 17,893 in 2022—an incredible 60% leap! Every weekday, about 15,000 workers flood the town, making roads buzz with traffic, including thousands of oil tankers. Last year, nearly 25,000 vehicles entered Añelo daily, with 6,400 being trucks—many needing Mr. Jiménez’s tyre services. Vaca Muerta is a giant oil and gas formation stretching over 30,000 sq km. Though discovered in 1931, real drilling kicked off only after Argentina legalized fracking in 2014. Fracking blasts underground rock using high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals to release trapped oil and gas. The first operation was a combo between Argentina’s government-owned YPF and U.S. giant Chevron. By February 2024, Vaca Muerta had over 3,300 active wells, producing more than half of Argentina’s oil and gas, according to Nicolás Gadano, chief economist at Empiria consultancy. Why has fracking made such a splash? Mr. Gadano explains it beats older, expensive methods digging into tough old reserves. Nicolás Gandini from energy media Econojournal agrees: "All other onshore deposits are three to four times more expensive than Vaca Muerta." The result? Argentina now produces enough energy for itself and even exports oil and gas, bringing in much-needed foreign money. Mr. Gadano says, "Last year, there was a significant external surplus in the energy sector of $6bn." But don’t expect Vaca Muerta to fix all of Argentina’s economic headaches. Mr. Gandini warns, "I think there is an overrepresentation of the value that Vaca Muerta can bring to solving the structural problems facing the Argentine economy." Big hurdles remain. Poor roads, limited pipelines, and no railway limit growth. Plus, Argentina’s low credit rating scares off investors, who can’t easily move their earnings abroad due to strict currency controls. Mr. Gadano notes, "Companies say ‘everything is fine with Vaca Muerta, but I haven't been able to get a single dollar out of Argentina for 15 years.’" The government recently eased foreign exchange rules for individuals and might do so for companies soon, a hopeful sign for growth. Politically, Vaca Muerta enjoys rare unity—all major parties support expanding oil and gas. But this hurts environmental activists like Fernando Cabrera of Observatorio Petrolero Sur: "We are really losing in the public debate." Back in Añelo, despite the chaos and fast changes, Mr. Jiménez is booming with business. From servicing two vehicles a day to 20 now, he’s riding the fracking wave but stays realistic: "Yes there will surely be oil and gas for many years to come, but that does not mean that Argentina will not continue to experience economic and political ups and downs." The dusty, busy roads of Añelo tell the tale of a town transformed but a nation still searching for smooth sailing.