What is "ancap"

Ancap or ANCAP can mean:

• Anarcho-capitalism
• ANCAP (Uruguay), Uruguay's state-owned petroleum company
• ANCAP (commodity standard), a proposed commodity standard for currency
• Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), an automobile crash safety organization

ANCAP is an alternative currency system that uses ammonium nitrate, copper, aluminum and plywood as the units of exchange. The system was first proposed in 1982 by the economist Robert Hall. ANCAP is an example of a commodity standard.

ANCAP (Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcoholes y Portland) is a state-owned company in Uruguay. It is involved in the production of petroleum products, Portland cement and alcoholic beverages. It operates Uruguay's single oil refinery at La Teja with a capacity of per day. ANCAP has a long-term corporate credit rating 'BB-' with positive outlook by Standard & Poor's.

In December 2008, ANCAP launched Uruguay's first offshore licensing round, due for completion June 2009. It offered 11 blocks for oil and gas exploration covering areas ranging from each, with water depths ranging from .

In addition to Uruguay, ANCAP operates in Argentina where it owns Petrolera del Cono Sur, operating a petrol station network.