Neuquén joins the national RIGI: the key that plugs Vaca Muerta into the 30-year regime

Neuquén formally adhered to the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) created by national Law 27.742 (Ley Bases), Title VII, Chapters I to XII, articles 164 to 228 (Art. 1 of Law 3491). The adhesion is the legal piece that obliges the province to respect, for projects that adhere to the national RIGI, the benefits of the federal regime: fiscal/regulatory/customs stability for 30 years, tax benefits, free availability of foreign exchange and FX stability, for large-scale projects (general threshold from USD 200 M). Without this provincial adhesion, the provincial taxes (Turnover Tax, Stamp, Property) were left outside the stability umbrella the RIGI promises the Vaca Muerta megaprojects. The law designates the Ministry of Economy, Production and Industry as enforcement authority (Art. 3) and invites the municipalities to adhere (Art. 4). Important precision: the text of Law 3491 does NOT itself contain rates, exemptions of Turnover/Stamp/Property tax "up to 100%" or a "guaranteed official dollar" — those benefits come from the NATIONAL RIGI (Law 27.742) to which this law adheres, and the province's own regime with tiered exemptions is Law 3502 "Invest in Neuquén". 3491 is the pure adhesion to the federal regime; it should not be confused with 3502. verif · Jan 8, 2025 ↗

From its publication in the Official Gazette (January 2025; promulgated by Decree 37/2025 of 01-08-2025). verif · Jan 8, 2025 ↗

Owners of large investment projects located in Neuquén —mainly energy and unconventional hydrocarbons in Vaca Muerta (YPF and majors, midstream such as VMOS, LNG, gas pipelines)— that adhere to the national RIGI and need the 30-year fiscal stability to also reach the provincial taxes. Indirectly, the whole ecosystem of suppliers and satellite services built around each megaproject the RIGI unlocks. prob · Jan 8, 2025 ↗