The government will put the Comahue dams out to tender after reaching an agreement with Río Negro and Neuquén.

The national government confirmed that in the coming days it will launch the call for bids to operate four hydroelectric complexes located in the Comahue region, in a process that will include participation from both national and international bidders. This measure is part of an agreement reached with the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, which incorporates longstanding demands related to the management of water resources and the distribution of economic benefits derived from energy generation. The Ministry of Economy projects revenues between USD 400 and USD 500 million from the sale of the share package of the power plants, which will be allocated to the national Treasury as one of the sources planned for the strengthening of reserves. The bidding process will include 30-year concessions and new rules that, according to the Executive, aim to modernize the current framework in place since the privatization of the 1990s. The agreement with the provinces establishes explicit recognition of their status as owners of the water resources and the introduction of conditions that have been demanded for more than three decades.