# Argentina private investment expansion > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/argentina-private-investment-expansion > Updated: 2026-08-13T03:32:10.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 5. In late July 2026, Argentine firms disclosed a wave of large-scale private projects across multiple sectors. Retail chain Café Martínez announced plans for 31 new stores, entertainment brand Megatón targeted a venue in southern Mar del Plata, and energy companies outlined multibillion-dollar developments: Pampa Energía’s US$2.7 billion urea plant in Bahía Blanca and Vista Energy’s US$5.8 billion Bandurria Norte field expansion in Vaca Muerta. A follow-up report later the same day highlighted Bahía Blanca, which supplies roughly two-thirds of Argentina’s petrochemical output. Pampa Energía’s urea-granule plant aims for a 2.1 million-ton annual capacity by 2029, will create more than 3,500 construction jobs and about 300 permanent positions, and includes a desalination plant and new port infrastructure linked to Vaca Muerta gas pipelines. On 31 July 2026, the government approved two projects under the Regime of Incentives for Large Investments (RIGI), raising the total approved initiatives to 23 and committed investment to about US$49 billion. The approvals covered Pampa Energía’s fertilizer plant (projected US$800 million annual foreign-exchange earnings) and a US$360 million expansion of Compañía MEGA, adding 1,500 tonnes per day of natural-gas-liquids capacity and creating roughly 800 jobs. Early August brought a further RIGI batch of five projects worth US$46.7 billion, including lithium operations by LIEX ($709 million) in Catamarca and POSCO ($547 million) in Salta-Catamarca. On 2 August, the government formally approved the Vicuña mining project in San Juan, a consortium of BHP and Lundin Mining. The project involves an initial US$9.7 billion commitment with potential total outlays up to US$18 billion over the next decade, subject to a phased disbursement schedule and specific investment conditions to access fiscal and currency benefits. By mid-August 2026, Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced that the RIGI framework had attracted nearly US$150 billion in projects, with an additional US$50 billion in announcements anticipated. ## Claims - The consortium has applied to join Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) for the Argentina LNG project. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The total investment for the Argentina LNG project is estimated at US$51 billion. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The project will utilize two floating liquefaction units (FLNG) with a combined capacity of 12 million tonnes per annum. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The project is expected to generate approximately 20,000 annual jobs during the construction phase (2026-2030). (corroborated by 5 sources) - The project aims to generate annual export revenues of approximately US$10 billion. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Total projects presented under the RIGI regime have reached nearly US$150 billion. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-13: Argentina LNG project seeks RIGI status with US$51 billion investment YPF, Eni, and XRG have applied for Argentina's RIGI incentive regime for the US$51 billion Argentina LNG project, aiming to export Vaca Muerta gas via floating liquefaction units by 2031. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-and-bolivia-implement-new-measures-to-attract-foreign-investment ### 2026-08-02: Argentina approves $9.7 bn Vicuña mining project under RIGI Argentina approved the $9.7 bn Vicuña copper‑gold‑silver mine in San Juan under the RIGI, part of five new projects totaling $46.7 bn and creating tens of thousands of jobs. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-approves-97-bn-vicua-mining-project-under-rigi ### 2026-07-31: Argentina approves two RIGI projects, including Pampa Energía fertilizer plant Argentina's RIGI approved a $2.7 bn Pampa Energía fertilizer plant and a $360 m MEGA gas‑liquid expansion, together creating over 4,300 jobs and adding $800 m‑$190 m in annual export earnings. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-approves-two-rigi-projects-including-pampa-energa-fertilizer-plant ### 2026-07-25: Bahía Blanca drives two‑thirds of Argentina’s petrochemical output and hosts $2.7 bn urea plant project Bahía Blanca produces about two‑thirds of Argentina’s petrochemicals, dominates ethylene and ammonia output, and will host Pampa Energía’s $2.7 bn urea plant targeting 2.1 Mt/yr by 2029, creating thousands of + 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/baha-blanca-drives-twothirds-of-argentinas-petrochemical-output-and-hosts-27-bn-urea-plant-project ### 2026-07-25: Argentina announces multi‑billion‑dollar private investment projects Argentina's private sector unveils $8.5 bn in projects, including Café Martínez store expansion, Megatón's new venue, a $2.7 bn urea plant and Vista's $5.8 bn Vaca Muerta development. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-announces-multibilliondollar-private-investment-projects --- Cite as: Argentina private investment expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/argentina-private-investment-expansion