Patagonia identified as potential global AI and energy hub

During the International Economic Forum of the Americas (IEFA) Latam Forum in March 2025, Demián Reidel, president of Núcleo Eléctrica Argentina (NASA) and former head of Javier Milei’s Advisory Council, discussed Argentina’s economic potential. Reidel highlighted Patagonia as a potential global hub for energy and artificial intelligence due to its vast land, water resources, and cold climate, noting that the region’s primary challenge was that it “was populated by Argentines.”

The discussion addressed Argentina’s dual economy, characterized by record-breaking exports expected to exceed $100 billion. This includes hydrocarbon production of 920,000 barrels of oil per day and grain harvests exceeding 160 million tons. However, this extractivist model, aimed at generating foreign currency to service growing external debt, has resulted in a stagnant domestic economy that faces difficulties importing machinery and equipment.