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Argentina state enterprise privatization efforts

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2026-09-06 15:05 UTC → 2026-09-09 18:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Argentine government is pursuing a broad privatization and concession program for state-owned enterprises to reduce the state’s economic footprint. A central component of this initiative is the privatization of the water utility Aguas y Saneamientos Argentinos (AySA). The plan involves transferring 90% of the company’s shares to private consortia under a 30-year concession, which may be extended by an additional decade. This proposal includes the removal of state subsidies and the authorization of supply cuts for non-payment, though it has faced legal challenges from the Buenos Aires Ombudsman’s Office regarding transparency. By late August 2026, the government established a roadmap to privatize or grant concessions for at least five state companies before the first half of 2027. Under the Ministry of Economy and the Agency for the Transformation of Public Enterprises, the government planned to tender 90% of AySA’s shares on September 15, with a requirement that at least 51% remains with a strategic operator. Potential bidders include Grupo Roggio and Mauricio Filiberti, potentially in partnership with the firm Rowing. On September 8, 2026, the La Plata Chamber of Appeals upheld an injunction against the AySA privatization process. The ruling prohibits the company from “modifying, reducing, or altering essential obligations” regarding water supply, public health, and environmental standards. While the injunction does not halt the sale of the 90% state stake—which the government expects to generate approximately $450 million—it freezes the application of new concession contracts that would allow for lower quality standards. The case has been transferred to federal jurisdiction, where the ultimate continuity of the privatization will be determined. Authorized under the Ley Bases, the program targets several entities, including ENARSA, Intercargo, Belgrano Cargas, SOFSE, and Corredores Viales, with partial processes enabled for Nucleoeléctrica and Yacimientos Carboníferos de Río Turbio. The government is also seeking a 50-year concession for the Belgrano Cargas railway, requiring an estimated US$1 billion investment. Recent asset transfers include the privatization of Comahue hydroelectric dams in late 2025, which reportedly brought US$707 million to the Treasury, and the May 2026 sale of the state’s participation in CITELEC for US$356 million.

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