Roundup: Rigi procedures, hydropower concession, US$200mn solar-storage project

Rigi procedures

Argentina published rules guiding the implementation of investment incentives regime Rigi.

The regime – which is whetting the appetites of the likes of hydrocarbons and mining firms – is designed to help spur investment in the cash-strapped country.

A document attached to an economy ministry resolution covers four central procedures for projects and providers that want to adhere. A fifth procedure is for projects that want to voluntarily exit the regime.

Rigi establishes a series of tax and exchange rate benefits and stable rules of the game for 30 years. 

Applications will be made via the government’s TAD remote-processing platform.

Click here for more information.

Hydropower concession

Argentine hydrocarbons and power generation firm Pampa Energía was ordered to continue operating a Mendoza province hydroelectric complex until June 2025.

The 30-year contract for the 386MW asset, known as Diamante, had technically expired on October 19.

Pampa operates the complex via unit Hidisa. Diamante comprises generation plants Agua del Toro (150MW), Los Reyunos (224MW) and El Tigre (11.9MW).

Argentina is in the process of re-offering to the private sector plants whose contracts – after being extended – expired this year. 

Storage project

A US$200mn solar PV-energy storage project branded Parque Solar BESS Cuyumillaco was submitted for environmental review in Chile.

Filed by a company called Chucao Solar, the project involves installing, in Maule region, 90MW of solar PV capacity and 90MW of batteries with five-hour injection duration capacity.

Construction is penciled in to start in July 2026, according to documents filed with environmental review agency SEA.

Chile’s pre-construction pipeline of standalone storage projects and generation-storage hybrid systems is growing.

The government is working to ease permitting requirements for storage projects that meet certain conditions.