Argentina biofuel law reform sparks regional industrial debate

Proposed reforms to Argentina’s biofuels law, spearheaded by Senator Patricia Bullrich, have drawn conflicting reactions from regional industrial sectors.

In Junín, local producers express concern that Project S-809/26 threatens the continuity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Chamber of Regional SME Biofuel Producers (CEPREB) warns that the reform could jeopardize local operations like Biobin, which produces approximately 40,896 tons of biodiesel annually. Critics argue the legislation may favor large multinationals in Santa Fe at the expense of regional employment and local tax revenue in Buenos Aires province.

Conversely, in Tucumán, the sugar and alcohol sector has expressed support for the bill. Catalina Rocchia Ferro, director of Compañía Azucarera Los Balcanes, stated that the project could drive investment in bioethanol production and strengthen energy sovereignty. She described the legislative effort as a consensus-building measure that could transform the province’s productive capacity, provided there is sufficient investment to increase milling capacity.