Argentina launches $800M AMBA I energy transmission tender

Argentina's Secretariat of Energy has officially launched the international tender for the ‘AMBA I’ project, a major high-voltage electricity transmission expansion. The project involves an estimated private investment of $800 million to construct 270 kilometers of new lines and a transformer station, aiming to add 2,000 MW of capacity to the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.

The tender includes a clause prohibiting companies directly or indirectly controlled by foreign states from acting as main contractors. While not naming a specific country, the restriction is expected to significantly impact large Chinese infrastructure firms, such as PowerChina. This follows similar exclusion criteria previously applied by the administration of Javier Milei in waterway and road concession tenders.

The project is the first in a series of 16 planned electrical transport works requiring over $6.6 billion in total investment. To support the start of construction, the government has authorized $100 million in financial contributions from the Wholesale Electricity Market Stabilization Fund. Additionally, the Inter-American Development Bank is analyzing a potential guarantee operation to back the resulting concession contract.