News of rigi

High in the Andes, Milei pushes Argentina’s copper revolution

Today 15:21 Argentina is accelerating copper extraction under President Javier Milei as investors pour in and fears grow over glaciers and water supplies.

INVESTMENT & ENERGY

YPF seeks incentive programme for US$25-billion oil project

16-05-2026 10:43 YPF announces US$25-billion project to accelerate oil production – the largest investment since President Javier Milei took office.

Editorial

Reiterated Infrastructural Gaps Ignored

16-05-2026 06:51 Both the quantity and quality of Argentina’s public universities are up for discussion – a right which the government would earn if they were ready to pump more funds into areas which could fuel progress instead of just blindly cutting.

INVESTMENT

Milei approves RIGI incentives for lithium mine expansion with China ties

14-05-2026 17:22 Milei’s government clears joint venture led by China’s Ganfeng Lithium Group to invest US$1.24 billion in an expansion of its mine in the province of Jujuy along with partners Lithium Argentina AG, which has US-listed shares, and state-owned JEMSE.

ENERGY & GAS

Mercuria-backed oil driller plots US$6-billion Argentina shale push

30-03-2026 14:31 Phoenix Global Resources is preparing a US$6-billion expansion in Argentina’s booming Vaca Muerta shale patch.

ENERGY & GAS

Milei’s expanded incentive plan set to draw shale oil investors

03-03-2026 13:46 YPF, Vista Energy and Pampa Energía eyeing RIGI programme after Milei administration broadened it to include shale oil wells.

MINING & GLACIERS

US$40-billion copper boom hinges on revamped glacier law

27-02-2026 20:25 Argentina’s Senate voted on Thursday on Javier Milei's bill that would allow governors – many pro-mining – to overrule federal protections on glaciers and their surrounds, known as periglacial areas.

ENERGY & GAS

YPF chief readies war chest for shale push as Milei bolsters oil

19-02-2026 16:59 YPF SA is setting aside funds to keep spending in the fast-growing Vaca Muerta basin, says Horacio Marín.

MINING INVESTMENT

Vicuña unveils US$18bn mining investment via RIGI scheme

17-02-2026 19:16 Vicuña to invest US$18 billion in gold, silver and copper mining; Joint venture between BHP and Lundin targets world top-five copper, gold and silver output; San Juan project could rank among world’s largest operations, with first production slated for 2030.

FREIGHT RAILWAYS

Grupo Mexico, major crop traders eye Milei rail privatisation in Argentina

20-11-2025 19:26 Upgrading the sprawling Belgrano Cargas network — which connects northern Argentina to Paraná ports — would help unlock extra soy and corn production and catalyse a slew of lithium and copper projects in the Andes.

ENERGY & GAS

YPF hails Milei agenda as Abu Dhabi joins Argentina’s LNG push

04-11-2025 15:02 State-run YPF SA said Argentina’s oil and gas industry would benefit from sweeping tax and labour reforms, ssys CEO Horacio Marín.

TECH & INVESTMENT

OpenAI, Sur Energy to build massive AI data centre in Patagonia

10-10-2025 16:07 US tech firm OpenAI and Argentine firm Sur Energy sign letter of intent for US$25-billion investment in artificial intelligence; Companies plan joint venture to develop Stargate Argentina, a massive AI infrastructure project that will include a data centre in Patagonia.

RIGI INVESTMENT BOOST

McEwen Copper’s Los Azules endorsed for Argentine initiative

27-09-2025 09:08 McEwen Copper Inc wins RIGI investment incentive scheme approval for its Los Azules copper project in San Juan Province.

RIGI INVESTMENT INCENTIVE SCHEME

One year in, RIGI investor incentive scheme fails to take off

27-08-2025 09:18 One of President Javier Milei’s flagship policies, the RIGI incentive scheme for large investors, is not taking off – one year on from its launch, three projects have imported a mere US$26 million. Seven initiatives have been approved with 11 others pending and a Chinese rejection.

by Gonzalo Martínez

RIGI INVESTMENT BOOST

Glencore seeks incentives for US$13-billion copper mining projects

18-08-2025 16:46 Switzerland-based commodities firm Glencore files applications to have two copper projects with combined capital expenditure estimated at more than US$13 billion included in RIGI investment incentive scheme.

ANALYSING ARGENTINA

Exit rigging, enter RIGI

08-03-2025 06:00 Argentina has, many times in its recent past, seen long-term sustainability ruined by short-term objectives.

by Marcelo J. García

lithium mining

Rio Tinto to invest US$2.5 billion in lithium production

13-12-2024 13:24 Anglo-Australian mining giant announces US$2.5-billion investment in Rincón project in Salta Province, with chief executive praising Milei’s reforms and RIGI scheme.

Investing in Argentina

Milei touts US$50 billion from investors eyeing 30-year loopholes

02-12-2024 13:04 Argentina has abundant natural resources and legions of well-educated workers. But it struggles to attract investors because its politicians have a habit of changing the rules on a whim.

Analysing Argentina

Milei, in the best of all possible worlds

16-11-2024 05:00 Everywhere he looks, Javier Milei sees good news, which he takes as confirmation that he has chosen the right path.

by Marcelo J. García

INVESTMENT

Milei government enthused by initial RIGI investment commitments

18-09-2024 18:03 Two multinationals from the automobile sector and a large energy company have committed investments since passage of the RIGI investment incentive scheme.

by Martín Fernández Nadale

EDITORIAL

Libertarian entrapment

31-08-2024 05:21 The paradox of a libertarian government revering the free market while unable to exit bureaucratic Kirchnerite capital controls has already drawn comment but the reduction of the PAIS tax exposes another contradiction.

ANALYSING ARGENTINA

Milei’s mirror: Ireland or Nigeria?

10-08-2024 05:37 The RIGI scheme places Argentina closer to a category that experts call an enclave economy, one in which some sectors boom but the larger public is not necessarily attached to the benefits.

by Marcelo J. García

ENERGY & GAS

YPF in talks with energy transfer to fund Argentina pipeline

20-07-2024 18:12 Argentine crude driller YPF SA has held talks with US pipeline company Energy Transfer LP to finance a cross-country pipeline that could ramp up shale oil exports.

ANALYSING ARGENTINA

Milei’s future: back to the past?

22-06-2024 05:01 While it is crucial for the government to attract investments from various sources, the nature of the country’s insertion in the global economy will depend on Milei’s alliances.

by Marcelo J. García

INTERVIEW

Ex-Energy and Mining secretary Flavia Royón: 'RIGI is necessary’

06-06-2024 00:50 Former Energy & Mining secretary in Alberto Fernández and Javier Milei governments says RIGI investment incentive scheme is “necessary to develop LNG, hydrogen and mining projects.”