Secretariat of Energy launches international tender for the AMBA I network

The Secretary of Energy of the Ministry of Economy authorized the call for a National and International Multi-Stage Public Tender for the award of a public works concession aimed at the construction, operation and maintenance of the expansion of the High-Voltage Electric Power Transmission System AMBA I. The measure was adopted by Resolution 202/2026 (RESOL-2026-202-APN-SE#MEC), signed on August 10 and published on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic, and formally summons interested parties to bid.

The project was declared a priority by Resolution No. 715/2025 of the Ministry of Economy, within the framework of Law No. 17,520, and Decree No. 921/2025 ratified that priority expansions of the transmission system must be tendered under that public works concession regime. The project is also framed within the national energy sector emergency extended by Decree No. 585/2026 until December 31, 2027, and within the new Section 2.6 of Title VI of the expansion regulations, approved by Resolution No. 83/2026 of the Secretariat itself.

Scope of the call

The procedure will be processed entirely through the CONTRAT.AR platform, where the approved tender documents will be published: the General Terms and Conditions, the Particular Terms and Conditions and the Technical Specifications, together with their annexes. The call will be disseminated in the Official Gazette, on the website of the Secretary of Energy, on dgmarket.com and on the IDB for Americas (BIDFA) portal, and shall be governed by the following deadlines:

• Submission of bids: within 120 days from publication in the Official Gazette, at 11:00 a.m., via electronic form in CONTRAT.AR.
• Opening act: electronic public act 120 days after publication, at 12:00 noon.
• Inquiries on the tender documents: until 30 days before the opening of bids, at 5:00 p.m.
• Minimum advance of 60 calendar days between the call and the expiration of the deadline for submission of bids.

IDB guarantee and adherence to the RIGI

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is analyzing the structuring of a guarantee operation linked to the concession contract, with a term of validity of up to 25 years and coverage of up to 6 months of the payment of the remuneration to the concessionaire, subject to the Bank’s internal approvals and the terms of the tender documents. The resolution also enables the future awardee to request adherence to the Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI), created by Title VII of Law No. 27,742, with the aim of obtaining more competitive bids that favorably impact the rates that the beneficiaries of the project will pay.

Financing, evaluation and stakeholders

The Wholesale Electricity Market Management Company (CAMMESA) reported the availability of funds in the Export Account of the Wholesale Electricity Market Stabilization Fund (MEM), which may be allocated to financial contributions to the awardee in accordance with Resolution No. 1.037/2021. Resolution 202/2026, processed under file EX-2026-73614665-APN-DGDA#MEC, creates the Evaluation Commission for the procedure, composed of:

• Regular members: Pedro Jorge Cattaneo, Favio Emir Ramírez, and Claudia Fabiana Contarino.
• Alternate members: Guillermo Luis Cappelletti, Ramiro Agustín Varela, and Héctor Raúl Serrani.

The regulation, signed by the Secretary of Energy, María Carmen Tettamanti, will be notified to CAMMESA, the National Gas and Electricity Regulatory Entity (ENRGE), TRANSENER S.A., TRANSBA S.A., and EDENOR S.A., and shall enter into force on the day of its publication.

The execution of the AMBA I project will significantly improve the supply conditions for the demand of Greater Buenos Aires and the security and reliability of the Argentine Interconnection System (SADI). For users in the metropolitan area, the process will define the transmission capacity available in the coming years and the final cost of electricity rates, in a context in which the State seeks to close the infrastructure deficit with private capital and international financial backing.

Source: Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, First section (official reference: RESOL-2026-202-APN-SE#MEC).