It seems leftists never fully comprehend the ramifications of populist policies

Argentina to expropriate Repsol oil subsidiary YPF

The Argentine government will seize a controlling interest in oil company YPF owned by Spanish firm Repsol.

President Cristina Fernandez said a bill will be presented to the Senate allowing the government to expropriate 51% of YPF shares.

The move, announced on national television, was welcomed by her cabinet and Argentine governors.

Spain and the EU have already expressed concern at such a state takeover of YPF, in which Repsol has a 57.4% stake.

Announcing the move, President Fernandez said energy was a "vital resource". Of the seized shares, the state will hold 51% and the country's oil-producing provinces will get 49%.

Shares in YPF fell some 18% on Wall Street following the announcement.

YPF has come under sustained criticism from the Argentine government, which accuses it of failing to invest enough in local oil fields.

The Argentina authorities have accused YPF of not investing enough to increase its output and so lessen the need for imports, an accusation it rejects.

The company has been stripped of a number of leases, including in some of the biggest oil fields in the country.

In recent weeks, speculation has grown that the Argentine government was planning to force through a bigger state role in the firm.

Spain has previously warned Buenos Aires that a takeover of YPF could have consequences for Argentina's international image.

And on Monday Spain's ruling People's Party said the government would defend national interests

"The government has to decide on its response, but I don't have the slightest doubt that it will be the most appropriate response to defend national interests and Spanish interests and a sufficient and complete response to defend the interest of Spanish companies in Argentina," said the general secretary of the party, Maria Dolores Cospedal.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has made it clear it backs Spain's position.

In November last year, YPF, which was privatised in 1993, announced a major find of 1bn barrels of shale oil.

Argentina has some of the world's largest reserves of shale oil and gas, hydrocarbons trapped deep underground.

It is ranked number three in the world in terms of recoverable resources, behind China and the US, according to the US Energy Information Administration.