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Argentina Receives Nine Bids to Run Comahue Hydropower Complexes for 30 Years

Regulators begin vetting bidders ahead of a planned second tender for seven additional dams.

Overview

  • The Energy Secretariat said nine companies submitted offers to operate the Alicurá, El Chocón–Arroyito, Piedra del Águila and Cerros Colorados–Planicie Banderita complexes, which together total 4,170 MW of installed capacity.
  • Bidders include IPS Renewal, Central Puerto, Central Costanera, Hidroeléctrica Futaleufú (Genneia, Aluar and Futaleufú), BML Inversora, Enel Argentina, AES, Pampa Energía and Edison Inversiones.
  • The tender sells 100% of each concessionaire’s shares under 30‑year contracts, with ATEP now reviewing technical qualifications before opening economic bids and with rules limiting any single group to at most two complexes.
  • Officials project roughly US$500–700 million in proceeds, and Río Negro and Neuquén are set to receive a 12% royalty on energy sales plus a 2% provincial canon for water use under the concession scheme.
  • In parallel, ENARSA has launched technical‑economic audits for Cabra Corral, El Tunal, Futaleufú, Ullum, El Cadillal, Escaba and Pueblo Viejo to prepare a 2026 concession round.