The Salto Grande dam, the first binational hydroelectric plant in Latin America, is at the center of a dispute that combines the need for technological modernization with a long-standing economic claim. The 14 turbines operating at the plant, manufactured in the former Soviet Union, have turned 47 years old and their replacement has become a priority that is attracting global interest, with an estimated cost of 50 million dollars per unit.
The plant, located in the middle course of the Uruguay River 15 kilometers north of the city of Salto (Uruguay) and Concordia (Argentina), is jointly managed by both countries. However, the natural wear and tear of the Soviet machinery, dating back to the dam's construction in 1974, requires a multi-million dollar investment that still lacks a defined schedule or an agreed financing mechanism.
While the future of the turbines is being defined, the conflict moves to the economic front. The State Attorney of Entre Ríos, Julio Rodríguez Signes, confirmed that the province, an ally of Javier Milei's government, is preparing a new lawsuit against the national government over differences in the settlement of surplus funds from Salto Grande. The claim originates from successive resolutions of the National Energy Secretariat, which, according to the province, depressed the price recognized for the dam.
The core of the dispute is the disparity in criteria with Yacyretá. While the Salto Grande dam is paid 19 dollars per megawatt, Yacyretá is recognized 28 dollars. This difference directly affects Entre Ríos, which receives a portion of the surplus generated by the plant, which represents 4% of Argentina's energy and 50% of Uruguay's.
The director of the Joint Commission that manages the dam, José Carlos Chagas, supported the need for these funds for provincial plans, such as a community, efficient and sustainable irrigation system endorsed by Governor Rogelio Frigerio. The province thus seeks not only to ensure the replacement of the turbines, but also to guarantee fair compensation to finance local development projects. The combination of technological obsolescence and financial dispute makes Salto Grande a test case of the tensions between inherited infrastructure and Argentina's new energy and fiscal needs.
