On 27 July 2023, through Resolution 621/2023, the National Energy Secretariat called for interested parties to submit offers in the “TerCONF” open call to enter into thermal generation supply agreements with Compañía Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Eléctrico S.A. for a term of up to 15 years. Remuneration contemplates a payment for the availability of the power offered and another one for the energy supplied. The open call seeks to increase the thermal generation of the Argentine Interconnection System, modernize the power plants and their assets located in Tierra del Fuego, and adapt the reserves to accompany the increasing demand.
On 7 August 2023, Decree 405/2023 (“Decree”) was published to regulate Law No. 27,669 that states the regulatory framework for the development of the medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp industry. Further, the Decree: (i) regulates the chain of domestic production and commercialization and/or for export purposes of the cannabis plant, its seeds, and its derivative products for medicinal use, including scientific research and industrial use; and (ii) complements Law No. 27,350, which initially regulated the medical and scientific research of the medicinal use of the cannabis plant and its derivatives.
On 3 August 2023, the Argentine Securities and Exchange Commission issued General Resolution No. 969/2023 to restrict the purchase and sale of fixed-income marketable securities denominated and payable in US dollars issued by the Argentine Republic, as well as transfers of such marketable securities to or from foreign depositories.
On 29 May 2023, the National Executive Power sent the Liquefied Natural Gas Promotion Bill to the Honorable Chamber of Deputies of the Nation. The Bill, while still a draft, creates a Promotional Regime for Large Liquefied Natural Gas Investment Projects for the production, storage, commercialization, transportation and infrastructure of LNG and/or its export, through the granting of tax, customs and exchange control benefits.
On 29 May 2023, the National Executive Power sent the Liquefied Natural Gas Promotion Bill to the Honorable Chamber of Deputies of the Nation. The Bill, while still a draft, creates a Promotional Regime for Large Liquefied Natural Gas Investment Projects for the production, storage, commercialization, transportation and infrastructure of LNG and/or its export, through the granting of tax, customs and exchange control benefits.
Through General Resolution 5393/23, AFIP (tax authority) regulated the provisional payment of the PAIS tax that applies to the importation of goods included in paragraphs (b) (sumptuary goods) and (e) (the rest of the goods, as set forth in Decree 377/23) of Decree 99/19.
On 24 July 2023, Decree No. 377/2023 was published in the Official Gazette. By means of the Decree, tax shall apply (i) at the rate of 25% on the acquisition of foreign currency for payments to be made for any type of service provided from abroad, with certain exceptions; (ii) at the rate of 7.5% on the acquisition of foreign currency for payments to be made for freight services and other transport services for import or export operations of goods; and (iii) at the rate of 7.5% on the acquisition of foreign currency for payments to be made for the import of goods (with certain exceptions).
On 13 July 2023, Resolution No. 90/2023 of the National Mining Secretariat was published, establishing the updated mining fee that considers the consumer price index published by the National Institute of Statistics and Census. The update will be carried out in December of each year and will be applicable to the value of the mining canon in the following year.
By means of Resolution Nos. 93 and 94, the Agency for Access to Public Information (AAIP for its acronym in Spanish) approved: (i) the Program on Transparency, Document Management and Archives; and (ii) the Strategic Plan for the period 2022-2026, respectively.
The National Executive Branch submitted Message 87/2023 to the Honorable Chamber of Deputies of the Nation with the Personal Data Protection Bill of Law (“Bill”).
The Bill is the outcome of a participatory, open and transparent process led by the Agency for Access to Public Information, which included the publication of the Personal Data Protection Draft Bill and its subsequent opening for public consultation. After receiving a total of 173 opinions, contributions and comments, the AAIP presented the Bill to the NEB and now the latter has submitted the Bill to Congress.