Salta province presents US$250mn infra plan

Argentina's Salta province unveiled a 270bn-peso (US$254mn) public works plan for this year amid a lack of federal funding and against the backdrop of an upcoming legislative election.

The plan covers 690 projects to be financed with provincial resources, but the number rises to 750 when those with multilateral funding are added, governor Gustavo Saenz said when inaugurating the 2025 legislative period.

Saenz highlighted that 12.8% of the provincial budget is being allocated to infrastructure, an amount three times larger than that of 2024.

Like all provinces, Salta saw a drastic reduction in federal funds last year as the Javier Milei administration slashed public spending. Salta in particular saw an 84% drop in non-automatic resource transfers. 

But provincial officials are also negotiating with the federal administration and have managed to secure funds for 12 educational infrastructure projects.

"This year, we will continue making this great effort [to finance public works], without stopping to request from the national government those funds that are suspended," Saenz said.

Projects in Salta's 2025 budget bill include:

– national route No. 9, Salta-La Caldera stretch, section I: Bolivia avenue turnabout-Wierna bridge (16.4bn pesos in financing this year, 42.5bn pesos in total);
– national route No. 40, provincial route No. 33 intersection-Palermo access stretch (14.5bn pesos in total; under construction);
– Poscaya health center (60mn pesos this year; 20.4bn pesos in total);
– expansion of San Bernardo hospital (1.64bn pesos this year, 22bn pesos in total, stage 1 to be finished in 2Q25);
– new Santa María de Luján school (33.4bn pesos in total, under construction).

Saenz was reelected for a second four-year term in 2023 and his allies hold majorities in both chambers.

In the elections slated for May 11, half the province's lower house and 12 of 23 senate seats will be up for grabs.