Mendoza awarded full Los Nihuiles royalties by Milei decree

Los Nihuiles hydroelectric royalties Atuel River interprovincial conflict Decree 982/2026

President Javier Milei has issued Decree 982/2026, which repeals a 1973 regulation and grants the province of Mendoza 100% of the hydroelectric royalties from the Los Nihuiles complex on the Atuel River. Previously, these funds were split equally between Mendoza and La Pampa.

The decision has intensified a long-standing interprovincial conflict. Mendoza Governor Alfredo Cornejo celebrated the move as a legal restoration of rights, noting that the energy is generated within his province. Conversely, La Pampa Governor Sergio Ziliotto condemned the decree as a robbery and announced plans to challenge the measure in court.

Supporters of the decree, including Deputy Luis Petri, argue the change aligns with Supreme Court rulings that associate royalty rights with the location of the energy source. The new regulatory framework also aims to unify standards for upcoming bidding processes for the hydroelectric system.

Entities

Alfredo Cornejo · Javier Milei · La Pampa · Los Nihuiles · Mendoza · Sergio Ziliotto

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Previous rulings in 2003 and 2009 validated the criteria that royalties belong to the province where the source is located. combonoticias.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Unifies the regulatory framework for the bidding process of the Los Nihuiles hydroelectric complex. combonoticias.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Ends the 50/50 royalty split between Mendoza and La Pampa that had been in place since 1973. limite42.com · www.planbnoticias.com.ar · combonoticias.com · elintransigente.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The Governor of La Pampa characterized the decree as a robbery and announced legal action. limite42.com · www.planbnoticias.com.ar · elintransigente.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Defended the decree, stating that collecting royalties for energy generated in Mendoza is justice, not theft. elintransigente.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Promulgated Decree 982/2026 to repeal Decree 1560/73. limite42.com · combonoticias.com · mendozatoday.com.ar · elintransigente.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Assigns 100% of hydroelectric royalties from the Los Nihuiles complex to Mendoza. limite42.com · combonoticias.com · mendozatoday.com.ar · elintransigente.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The Governor of Mendoza celebrated the measure as a restoration of legal rights. limite42.com · mendozatoday.com.ar