The Argentinian government has granted greater power to the state-owned power utility Ieasa (former Enarsa), strengthening the development capacity of the company in the national energy sector and repealing a previous administration's plan to privatise US$1bn of energy assets.
The decree positions Ieasa as a central player in the energy sector by authorising the company to increase natural gas imports from Bolivia. In addition, Ieasa will be responsible for two offshore hydrocarbon exploration areas in the Cuenca basin. The company will also take over the Manuel Belgrano (874 MW) and the José de San Martín CCGT (864 MW) power plants, which were expected to be privatised, and the 846 MW Vuelta de Obligado and 582 MW Guillermo Brown thermal power plants.
Previously, Ieasa’s mission were expanded to comprise hydrogen and mining, with a focus on lithium, considered a strategic resource. Ieasa is the sole importer of LNG in Argentina