Rio Negro local content: 60% of contracting to local suppliers

Concession holders, permit holders and parties authorized for the exploration, production, transport, storage and processing of energy or mineral resources in the Province —and their contractors and subcontractors— must guarantee that a minimum of 60% of the contracting of goods, services and works, across the different stages and under any direct or indirect arrangement, is executed by Rio Negro suppliers (art. 6). They must also INVITE THE SUPPLIERS REGISTERED on the digital platform TO BID and PUBLISH ON IT every contracting requirement (arts. 6.2 and 13). The Rio Negro supplier has the RIGHT TO MATCH the best offer and take the award if its bid meets the quality, safety and operational requirements of the tender and its price does not exceed the best one by more than 8% (art. 7); in the event of a tie, preference goes to the registered supplier, then to the one with an operating establishment in the Province, and then to the one employing more workers with accredited residency (art. 8). It creates the Rio Negro Supplier Registry under the Secretariat of State for Energy and Environment (art. 14), with free registration valid for 12 months and renewable (art. 16). Art. 4.2 expressly admits companies linked to or controlled by national or foreign groups if they prove local establishment and local value added (jobs, investment, technology). Art. 5 refers to law J 2904: the same obligated parties must additionally comply with the local-labor regime. verif · Aug 21, 2025 ↗

The law has been in force since September 2025 and the regime became fully operational with its implementing rules: Decreto 618/26, issued on 22-06-2026, approves the regulation of Ley 5805 and its annexes, and was published in Boletín Oficial 6504 of 29-06-2026. verif · Jun 22, 2026 ↗

For the obligated parties (VMOS, SESA, operators, EPC contractors and their subcontracting chains) it sets a local-procurement floor of 60%; for Rio Negro SMEs it does not guarantee the sale: it guarantees the invitation — art. 7 gives them the right to MATCH the best offer only if their price does not exceed it by more than 8%, and above that window the award goes to the outside bidder. With the art. 4.2 door open for outside groups to 'become local' by establishing themselves. Mandatory publication of contracting requests on an official platform (art. 13). verif · 2025-2026 ↗