Argentina’s Super RIGI: New Investment Incentive Regime for Emerging Industries

Newsletter

On May 22, 2026, Argentina’s Executive Branch submitted to the House of Representatives a bill to establish the “Incentive Framework for Large Investments in New Industries” — officially known as “Super RIGI.” The bill was signed by President Javier Milei, Chief of Cabinet Manuel Adorni, and Economy Minister Luis Caputo, and is currently before Congressional committees. This report summarizes the key provisions of the bill, contextualizes them against the existing RIGI framework, and outlines the targeted sectors and core incentives.

I.           Executive Summary

The Super RIGI is a standalone investment promotion framework designed to attract large-scale capital into industries that do not currently exist or remain at experimental stage in Argentina. It sets a minimum investment threshold of USD 1 billion per project — five times the USD 200 million floor of the original RIGI — and offers a materially more generous package of tax, customs, labor, and foreign exchange incentives, including a flat 15% corporate income tax rate (vs. 25% under the RIGI and 35% under the general regime), full exemption from export duties (retenciones), and 30 years of regulatory stability. Projects must be channeled through a Single-Project Vehicle (Vehiculo de Proyecto Unico, or VPU), which must have an exclusive corporate purpose tied to the approved investment plan.

Unlike the RIGI, which was open to existing sectors such as oil and gas, mining, forestry, and infrastructure, the Super RIGI is restricted to genuinely new economic activities — those that are not currently produced or provided in Argentina, or whose level of development is experimental or pilot at the time the law enters into force. Projects that have already applied to the original RIGI, or that are substantially similar to such projects, are expressly excluded.

The bill also introduces binding obligations on provincial and municipal governments that choose to adhere to the regime, including a cap of 0.50% on Gross Revenue Tax (Ingresos Brutos), exemption from Stamp Tax, prohibition on new local levies, and a ban on collecting royalties or administrative fees. Any provincial or local rule that undermines the incentives granted at the national level is declared null and void.

Dispute resolution may be referred to international arbitration under the ICC, the PCA, or ICSID rules, with a seat outside Argentina and no Argentine nationals as arbitrators.

II.         Background: The RIGI and its Results to Date

The original RIGI was enacted in June 2024 as part of the Ley de Bases (Law No. 27,742). It offers a suite of fiscal, customs, and foreign exchange incentives to projects exceeding USD 200 million (or USD 600 million for upstream oil and gas) structured through a VPU. The admission window, initially set at two years, was extended by one year in February 2026 and now runs through July 2027.

Pipeline and Approvals (as of May 2026):

Projects submitted35
Total investment announced (submitted)~USD 95 billion
Projects approved15 (as of April 2026)
Total investment committed (approved)~USD 27.2 billion
Actual FX inflows generated (to March 2026)USD 762 million (net)

Approved projects span the following sectors:

Oil & Gas / GNLVMOS oil pipeline (YPF + majors, USD 2.9bn); Southern Energy LNG (USD 15.2bn)~72-75%
Mining – LithiumRincon / Rio Tinto (USD 2.7bn)~10%
Mining – OtherDeep Carbonates project (Gualcamayo, gold/silver)~3%
RenewablesYPF Luz Solar El Quemado (USD 211m); PCR-Acindar Wind (USD 219m)~2%
Steel / IndustrySidersa (USD 286m, green steel, San Nicolas)~1%
InfrastructureNCA Railway (USD 200m)<1%

A further USD 67.8 billion in projects remains pending approval, including Glencore’s El Pachon copper project (USD 11.6bn), Pluspetrol’s Bajo del Choique (USD 12.2bn), and Vicuña (USD 9.7bn, copper-gold, San Juan). More than 95% of committed investment is concentrated in hydrocarbons and mining.

III.           Eligible Sectors under the Super RIGI

The bill defines eligible “new economic activities” as any industrial, technological, or service project linked to strategic technology and digital infrastructure that, at the date the law enters into force, is not produced or rendered in Argentina, or whose level of development is experimental or pilot. Amplifications, modernizations, or reconversions of existing facilities are expressly excluded.

The Executive’s explanatory message and related communications identify the following industries as target sectors:

Artificial Intelligence & Data CentersGPU infrastructure, large-scale AI training facilities
SemiconductorsChip fabrication and packaging
Advanced BiotechnologyBiopharmaceuticals, gene therapies, synthetic biology
Green HydrogenElectrolytic production and export
LNG value chain extensionsLiquefaction, floating storage, regasification
Small Modular Reactors (SMR)Nuclear power generation
Lithium batteries / battery manufacturingCell and pack production (not lithium extraction)
Electric vehiclesFull manufacturing (not assembly of imported kits)
Solar panels & wind turbinesDomestic manufacturing, not project construction
Uranium value chainEnrichment and fuel fabrication
Strategic digital infrastructureUndersea cables, satellite ground stations

The final list of qualifying activities will be defined by regulation. The bill gives the Enforcement Authority discretion to assess whether a proposed project constitutes a “genuinely new” activity and to reject applications where the activity already exists at commercial scale in Argentina.

 

IV.         Key Benefits and Comparison with the RIGI

Benefit/requirementWithout incentivesRIGISuper RIGI
Min. investmentN/AUSD 200m (USD 600m oil & gas)USD 1,000m
Corporate income tax35%25%15%
Dividend / profit tax7% (general)7% (years 1-4), 3.5% (year 5+)7% (years 1-4), 3.5% (year 4+)
Loss carryforward5 yearsUnlimitedUnlimited + transferable after 5 yrs
Accelerated depreciationStandardYesYes (2 yrs for machinery; 60% year 1 for infrastructure)
Import duties (capital goods)Standard tariffExemptExempt
Export duties (retenciones)Sector-specific (0-33%)ExemptExempt
VAT on investmentStandardCCF creditsCCF credits
Payroll tax (new hires)Standard (20-27%)Standard10% flat
FX free disposal (exports)Obligation to liquidate 100%20% yr 2 / 40% yr 3 / 100% yr 420% yr 1 / 40% yr 2 / 100% yr 3
FX for capital contributionsMust liquidateExempt from liquidationExempt from liquidation
Regulatory stabilityNone30 years30 years
Dispute resolutionArgentine courtsInternational arbitration optionInternational arbitration mandatory (ICC/PCA/ICSID); seat outside Argentina; no Argentine arbitrators
Local content rulesNone20% local procurementNo local content obligation
Window to applyN/AUntil July 20275 years from reglamentacion (+ 1 yr extension)

 

V.        Selected Structural Features

1.         Anti-Overlap Provision

Entities that have filed or plan to file under the original RIGI are barred from the Super RIGI. Projects with more than 50% overlap in CAPEX, location, assets, or production capacity relative to an existing RIGI applicant are treated as “similar projects” and are also excluded, even after restructuring, spin-offs, or ownership changes designed to circumvent the restriction.

2.         Provincial Adherence

Super RIGI incentives are only available for projects located in provinces that formally adhere to the regime. Adhering provinces must: (i) cap Turnover Tax at 0.50%; (ii) exempt all project-related transactions from Stamp Tax; (iii) refrain from imposing new levies or royalties; and (iv) waive the solve et repete rule, meaning they may not require payment as a condition for appealing tax assessments. Adherence is irrevocable as to previously approved projects, even if the province subsequently withdraws from the Super RIGI.

3.         Approval Process

The Enforcement Authority (to be designated by the Executive) has 90 business days to approve or reject a submitted investment plan. Rejection is non-appealable, but applicants may resubmit up to two additional times within the same calendar year. Rejection grounds are exhaustively listed in Article 19 and are limited to factual and legal deficiencies; the decision may not be discretionary. Approved projects receive protection equivalent to a property right from the date of adherence (Article 24).

VI.        Legislative Status and Next Steps

As of this memorandum’s date, Bill No. 0005-PE-2026 has been formally received by the House of Representatives and referred to the Committees on Budget and Finance, Industry, and Science, Technology and Innovation. Congressional debate has not yet been scheduled. The administration intends to seek treatment before the July congressional recess. Given that the original RIGI required significant negotiations with the Senate before final passage, the Super RIGI may face analogous scrutiny, particularly regarding the scope of provincial fiscal obligations and the exclusion of local content requirements.

Once approved, the Executive will have 90 calendar days to issue implementing regulations, after which the five-year application window will open.

 

 

 

If you have any questions or comments regarding the foregoing, do not hesitate to contact us by calling at (54.11) 3220.7166 or via e-mail addressed to info@berettagodoy.com. Beretta Godoy shall not be liable for any acts or omissions carried out in relation to or as a consequence of the information contained in this web page and, under no circumstances, shall it be liable for any loss or damage arising out of the use of said information. We recommend readers to seek specific advice on each particular case. The descriptions, references or links to other publications or web sites contained in this site do not imply Beretta Godoy’s endorsement or approval of said publications. The information contained in this site may be modified at any time.


© 2016 —Beretta Godoy —Todos los derechos reservados
Av. del Libertador 1146, PB suite B, Buenos Aires, C1112ABO, Argentina. T. +5411 3220 7166 —info@berettagodoy.com