Argentina’s national government has set a firm timeline for one of its most strategic transmission upgrades, confirming that technical bidding documents for the AMBA I project will be published between late March and early April 2026.
The announcement was made exclusively during a networking breakfast at Future Energy Summit (FES) Argentina, with participation from senior energy officials and private sector executives.
According to Maximiliano Bruno, National Director of Power Generation, the technical specifications will be released first, followed by the full tender documents including the economic terms. The formal bidding process is expected to launch later in 2026, with two additional transmission lines likely to be tendered in 2027.
The AMBA I transmission project is designed to enhance grid reliability in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA), which accounts for approximately 40% of Argentina’s electricity demand.
The project includes:
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A new 500 kV transmission corridor
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A 220 kV line to supply Buenos Aires city
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A fourth major substation west of Buenos Aires, between Ezeiza and General Rodríguez
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Two 500 kV, 25-kilometer خطوط linking the new substation southward to Ezeiza
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A northern connection toward the Atucha Nuclear Power Plant
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Additional 132 kV infrastructure to reinforce northern Buenos Aires province
Juan Luchilo, General Manager of CAMMESA (Argentina’s wholesale electricity market administrator), emphasized that the project comprises more than 500 kilometers of transmission lines.
“This is specifically aimed at improving reliability and meeting demand in Greater Buenos Aires,” he stated.
The infrastructure upgrade will enable up to 1,000 MW of additional transmission capacity, providing both short-term reliability gains and headroom for future generation integration.
Private Concession Model Backed by Multilateral Support
The tender will be structured as a private-sector concession, with bidders competing based on a regulated tariff scheme designed to recover investment over a defined concession period.
The initiative is expected to be backed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as guarantor, reducing financial risk and enhancing bankability for institutional investors.
Authorities have also indicated that transmission projects could qualify under Argentina’s Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), further improving the investment framework.
Transmission tenders are a central priority for the government’s 2026 energy agenda, reflecting a strategic shift toward unlocking grid bottlenecks that have constrained renewable energy integration and power system expansion.
AMBA I is part of a broader high-voltage expansion strategy aimed at facilitating new generation evacuation from across Argentina.
Key complementary projects include:
| Project | Voltage | Strategic Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Río Diamante – Charlone – O’Higgins | 500 kV | Enables evacuation from Cuyo region and Comahue system |
| Puerto Madryn – Choele Choel – Bahía Blanca | 500 kV | Strengthens Patagonia-to-core grid integration |
| Vivoratá – Plomer (under evaluation) | 500 kV | Required for hydro and future generation flows |
The east–west “ring closure” created by these lines will increase system resilience and allow greater incorporation of renewable energy, particularly solar PV and wind power, as well as hydro and thermal generation.
Additionally, the upcoming commissioning of the Jorge Cepernic Hydroelectric Complex (formerly La Barrancosa), with 360 MW of installed capacity, will require reinforced transmission infrastructure to accommodate new power flows.
Argentina’s transmission expansion strategy reflects a broader regional challenge: renewable energy deployment and electrification targets cannot advance without parallel investment in grid infrastructure.
By enabling an additional 1,000 MW of transmission capacity in the country’s main demand center, AMBA I is positioned as a cornerstone project for:
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Renewable energy integration
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Grid stability and congestion relief
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Long-term electrification growth
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Investment in renewables and thermal backup capacity
“In summary, this is about building substations and lines to supply Greater Buenos Aires while enabling new renewable, thermal or hydro generation,” Luchilo concluded.
With technical documentation set for release in early 2026, AMBA I marks a decisive step toward modernizing Argentina’s high-voltage grid and unlocking the next wave of power sector investment.
