They demand shareholding of the provinces and payments in dollars

A few days after the privatization process is activated, legislators demand actions in favor of the provinces. Propose concessions for a decade

04/15/2025 – 16: 25hs

The decision of the National Government of postpone the reprivatization of Comahue hydroelectric plants He revived the discomfort in the political segment of Río Negro and Neuquén, the provinces that share that energy complex. The officials of both districts require that the ruling complies with the new established term –set for April 24after breaking the process established for the 9 of this month – to activate the process of transferring the control of the centrals. Simultaneously, rionegrinos and neuquinos senators raised a letter to the governors of these districts and with reach to the Casa Rosada where, among other aspects, they claim the Provincial control in half of the facilities actions and one concession of only 10 years with return to the State.

The order in question carries the signatures of senators such as Silvia Sapag, Oscar Parrilli, Martín Doñate and Silvina García Larraburu, and refers to the destination of the hydroelectric complexes of Alicurá, El Chocón, Cerros Colorados and Piedra del Águila. The text emphasizes the intervention of Rolando Figueroa and Alberto Weretilneck, governors of Neuquén and Río Negro, respectively, and the analysis of the specifications to promote the privatization of the usins.

In the letter it is demanded that the provinces maintain 50% of the actions of energy complexes. In addition, a maximum concession period of the order of 10 years is proposed.

Privatization of hydroelectric plants: They propose a return to the State

The officials also raise a return of the assets to the State once the concessions granted. And set the obligation that those who assume the control of hydroelectric plants reinvest the “50% of the profits in the maintenance, improvement and expansion of the infrastructure of the electricity sector.”

In another section of the order it is indicated that the income from the sale of 50% of the share capital of the facilities should “Deposit in US dollars in the BCRA“, and the requirement that said amounts” are not allocated to the payment of debt or interest for external debt “is postulated.

The differences between the provinces and their legislators versus the national government regarding the destination of Comahue’s usines accumulate months of initiated and multiplied.

To mention an antecedent, already in February of last year Neuquén and Río Negro issued letters document against the National Government intimidating it to give up any attempt to assume control of hydroelectric plants, as well as pointing out that They will prevent any unilateral movement related to the concession of complexes.

In their notifications, the leaders of both districts anticipated that they will ignore the decisions taken at Casa Rosada with respect to the usins, and noted that the Constitution clearly indicates that the provinces are the absolute owners of their natural resources.

The governorates of Río Negro and Neuquén demanded that “the national state, and their dependencies, refrain from granting any type of concession, extension or authorization related to the exploitation of said hydroelectric complexes without previously obtaining the consent of the provinces“

The last extension accentuated the discomfort in the provinces of the hydroelectric plants

Counterreloj and the same day that the deadline that had been set last year expired – this is, April 9 – the administration of Javier Milei postponed the process of reprivatization of Comahue’s hydroelectric plants who have their defeated and extended contracts until August.

As Iprofesional reporteddue to operational delays and internal differences, it was reached that date without having launched the bidding process aimed at awarding the centrals to the new dealers, which should take care of them before next August 11.

To cover that bump, the government postponed for a period of 15 days the launch of the process of reprivatization of the dams. Of not mediating new extensions, the April 24 should be completed the official call For local and foreign bidders who are interested in the business.