Industry experts explain what is needed to attract investments to Argentina to build AI-related infrastructure
Since the introduction of the bill establishing the Incentive Regime for Large Investments in New Industries—better known as the “Super RIGI”—expectations regarding potential incoming investments have continued to grow. “Argentina has fallen quite far behind in the data center market; today, we have the opportunity to aim higher and position ourselves as one of the world’s most significant hubs,” stated Noelia Miranda, Director of Secure Power for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay at Schneider Electric, during the AI Ready DC 2026 event, hosted by the company.
Datacenters
The executive explained that data center investments are long-term projects—often involving capital outlays of up to $1 billion—which require reliable host countries with a degree of political and economic stability, as well as guarantees that investors can repatriate their earnings. “That is why Argentina fell behind, and it is the very same reason why it could become attractive today,” Miranda noted, highlighting other factors that currently set the country apart on the global stage—ranging from land availability and climate to its distance from regions affected by armed conflict. “When we speak with international clients and investors, they point out that Argentina is free from the risks of earthquakes and wars. Our country is fertile ground for further growth in the data center sector. Currently, we are not yet seeing large-scale projects of this nature—specifically dedicated to AI—in the region. In that sense, we have the chance to step forward and ensure we are prepared, with the necessary technology to make these data centers sustainable,” Miranda added.
The specialist noted that data centers have become a hot topic—not only within the technology sector but also in political and economic circles—having evolved into a “strategic initiative for the country.” He noted that, in a global context of electrification—compounded by the digitalization driven by artificial intelligence, which is growing at an increasingly exponential rate—it is essential to support this process with new data center infrastructure.
Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure
During the event, the company outlined the challenges that AI presents for data center architecture. “Between 2025 and 2030, 60% of data center deployments will be for AI, and 75% of AI workloads will require liquid cooling,” explained Julián Martín Gurgone, a data center architect at Schneider Electric.
Analyzing the global landscape, Miranda highlighted the ongoing decentralization of data. He explained that data is no longer concentrated solely in the United States, Europe, or Saudi Arabia; instead, there is a shift toward multipolar processing. “In the U.S., there have been significant restrictions on developing data centers, and this is likely to have a spillover effect in the region—specifically in Argentina. We have the ‘super RIGI’ [a major investment incentive framework], which has already received initial legislative approval and is generating high expectations; furthermore, we have an available supply of renewable energy,” Miranda noted, adding: “We are in constant communication with new local and foreign investors regarding AI-related requirements—it’s a level of constant engagement I’ve never experienced before.”
Throughout the day, various experts from the data center industry also shared their perspectives on Argentina’s current potential to host such infrastructure. “Low population density makes it easier to secure the social license required for data center construction. Additionally, the proximity to the ocean and the distance from conflict zones have caught the attention of this Polish firm,” explained Jorge Vilariño, Argentina country representative for Green Capital—a Polish company that, a few months ago, announced plans to build a mega data center in Chubut dedicated to artificial intelligence. The experts also shared what they believe is needed for Argentina to become a regional hub. “Economic, legal, and fiscal stability—along with continued global growth in the demand for data centers—are essential. Companies will come here; they’ll have no other choice,” stated Vilariño, being quite emphatic.
“We are seeing extremely high demand from parties interested in data centers,” noted Gerardo Manhard, Director of Energy and Infrastructure Consulting at Dreicon. He highlighted Argentina’s pricing as a key advantage: “We’re talking about an electricity cost of $50 per megawatt in Vaca Muerta, compared to an international average of $100. That’s half the price—and we aren’t talking about a small figure; it represents a difference of $500 million per year for a data center.”
Hernán Neirotti, Regional Manager for Secure Power at Schneider Electric Argentina, added that investment in data centers will have an impact across many areas: “This will bring with it a host of opportunities—not just related to the data center itself, but to everything that entails: engineers to design it, people to build it, and, subsequently, workers with the expertise to operate it, among others.”
