Argentina"s La Pampa launches its first privately funded solar PV park

The Governor of La Pampa, Sergio Ziliotto, signed on Tuesday the contract awarding the construction, commissioning, and operation of the province"s second solar photovoltaic (PV) park, to be located within the Energy Supply and Productive Development Hub in the city of General Pico.

The projectdesigned to generate 15 megawatts (MW) in its first stagewill be developed under a publicprivate partnership (PPP) unprecedented in the province.

The Temporary Business Union (UTE) is formed by Cimepro S.A., Martínez de la Fuente S.A., and Megatrans S.A., with Pampetrol SAPEM, the provincial energy company, holding a 20% minority stake.

The initiative represents a new step in La Pampa"s energy strategy to strengthen productive development, create local employment, and consolidate a more modern, diverse and sustainable power matrix.

The signing ceremony, held at the MEDANO Cultural Centre, brought together the Mayor of General Pico, Fernanda Alonso; the Secretary of Energy and Mining, Matías Toso; Pampetrol SAPEM President María Roveda; local mayors; provincial and national legislators; cooperative-sector representatives; business leaders; and members of the regional industrial network.

During the event, Governor Ziliotto highlighted the strategic relevance of the project and stressed the value of the publicprivate investment model as a tool for provincial development.

SThis Solar Park has a completely different component.

It is highly satisfying to have invited the private sector and received such strong reciprocation.

This is a publicprivate investment where private companies are choosing to invest in La Pampa," he said.

He specified that the initial investment will be around USD 10 million, of which 80% will be provided by private investors.

"They have placed their trust in La Pampa, in our framework, and in the institutional stability of our Province.

The remaining 20% corresponds to Pampetrol"s own resources, he added.

Ziliotto recalled that the provincial energy policyestablished as a State policy in 2020has a clear objective: to advance the clean-energy transition in response to climate change while ensuring energy sovereignty within a 20-year horizon.

SWe set ourselves a challenge with multiple intermediate milestones.

Beyond protecting the environment, the main goal is to achieve energy sovereignty through local power generation," he said.

The Governor emphasised the role of energy as a key input for industrial development in La Pampa and contrasted the provincial model with the national economic approach.

"Here we promote shared interests between the public and private sectors.

Despite efforts to frame this as a dichotomy, we continue working with common agendas and goals that go beyond individual or sectoral interests.

There is no sustainable development without production, and no production without jobs," he stated.

Ziliotto also stressed that the province"s energy-transition agenda is directly aligned with the goal of expanding installed capacity to boost productive growth.

He announced that private-sector interest shown during this tender will allow immediate progress toward new calls:

"Pampetrol will begin a new process to add more generation capacity here in General Pico and reach the 50-MW target as soon as possible.

Finally, he thanked the private sector for investing in La Pampa and reaffirmed the province"s strategic direction:

"We will continue on the path of production and employment.

Our agenda will remain centred on every resident of La Pampa and their future.

We are demonstrating that another development model is possible.

With a total investment of USD 10,492,721, the Solar Park will add 15 MW in its first stage and will be built under a publicprivate partnership model unprecedented in La Pampa"s energy sector.

Pampetrol SAPEM will hold a 20% equity share, while private companies will contribute 80% of the financing, equipment supply, construction, and assembly.

Technical specifications:

• More than 100 hectares dedicated to clean-energy generation

• 27,612 bifacial monocrystalline PV modules, 630 Wp each

• Single-axis trackers to optimise solar capture

• Estimated annual production: 37,236 MWh

• Construction timeline: 11 months

The project will directly benefit the Energy Development Hub, the Economic Activities Park, and the transformer substation, improving service quality across the area and supplying renewable electricity to more than 9,000 households.

It will also create jobs in strategic sectors: at least 70% of the workforce will be local, strengthening regional value chains.

With this new Solar Park and existing clean-energy facilities, La Pampa will reach 27.6% renewable-energy coverage of its electricity demand, consolidating progress toward energy sovereignty and continuing the path initiated with the Antü Mamüll Solar Park in Victorica.

Provincial Secretary of Energy and Mining, Matías Toso, positioned the new solar park within the energy plan designed in 2020.

He noted that today"s conversations around energy often revolve around crises and constraints, while La Pampa proposes a different perspective:

"We aim to talk about energy in terms of construction, projection, solving present challenges, and building the future.

He explained that the plan was designed specifically for La Pampaconsidering climate conditions, territorial distribution, and equal-opportunity goalsand is built around three pillars:

1. Producing energy

2. Rationalising and improving consumption

3. Transforming Pampetrol toward renewable-energy generation

For La Pampa, he said, the energy transition is not only about climate targets but also a driver of development and new opportunities.

"Projects like this one simultaneously boost energy production, job creation, and productive development across the region.

The Mayor of General Pico, Fernanda Alonso, highlighted the provincial government"s long-term commitment to strategic investments for the city and surrounding areas.

"We had been awaiting this opportunity, which is the result of the Province"s consistent attention to what General Pico and the region needednot only ensuring energy supply, but also advancing this PV park and expanding our industrial zone," she said.

She highlighted the project"s significance for local development:

"Being able to generate clean, renewable energy is no minor achievement, especially in times when much is said but little is done.

This is a concrete action that will reshape our productive matrix.

Alonso underlined that the industrial park will be able to self-supply with clean energy, making it a provincial benchmark and a model for other regions.

She closed by thanking the provincial government for sustaining a development agenda even amid challenging national conditions.

"I am proud that this is happening in our city.

It reflects La Pampa"s unwavering commitment to investment, the future, and development.

We will continue working along this path.