BUENOS AIRES, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Argentina's state-run

oil company YPF signed a memorandum of understanding

with three Indian firms to potentially export up to 10 million

metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year, the company

said on Tuesday.

YPF Chief Executive Horacio Marin inked the deal in New

Delhi with executives from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation

(OIL), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Oil and Natural

Gas Corporation Videsh Limited.

The agreement also covers cooperation in lithium, critical

minerals, and hydrocarbon exploration and production, YPF said

in a statement.

"We are convinced that the country has an opportunity to

become an energy exporter and achieve the objective sought by

the entire industry to generate revenues of $30 billion over the

next 10 years," Marin said.

The executive has also visited Israel, South Korea and Japan

to seek buyers for LNG from Vaca Muerta, the world's

second-largest shale gas reserve.

Reuters reported in December, citing a company source, that

Marin was set to travel to India this month to sign the

preliminary LNG export deal.