Argentina’s Northwest Provinces Position Bioethanol Expansion Amid Pending Regulatory Reform

The Instituto de Promoción del Azúcar y Alcohol de Tucumán organized the summit at Hotel Catalinas in San Miguel de Tucumán, running from 8:00 to 16:00 hours with live streaming provided for remote participation. Governors Osvaldo Francisco Jaldo of Tucumán, Gustavo Sáenz of Salta, and Carlos Alberto Sadir of Jujuy opened the event, replicating the format from the inaugural 2025 summit. National legislators including Senators Flavia Royón, Beatriz Ávila, and Sandra Mendoza participated in a panel on regulatory frameworks alongside Deputy Andrés Leone, moderated by Eduardo Castro, the provincial production secretary who also serves as IPAAT president.

Tucumán Economy and Production Minister Daniel Abad emphasized the pending biofuels law modification as critical to the region’s development strategy. The legislation includes incentives for new production capacity alongside the mandated blend increase. Abad stated that provinces without extractable mineral resources such as copper, gold, or lithium depend on agricultural-industrial chains for economic sustainability. The bioethanol industry provides equilibrium for sugarcane operations by balancing production between sugar exports, domestic sugar sales, and alcohol output.

Brazil’s participation carries particular significance given its ProÁlcool program history. Marcia Valeria de Souza Alves, coordinator of ethanol and biomethane at Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, presented in a panel on global biofuel markets. IPAAT manager Jorge Etchandy noted that Brazil adopted Argentina’s Alconafta technology in the late 1970s but maintained program continuity while Argentina interrupted its initiative. Agustín Torroba from IICA and executive secretary of the Liquid Biofuels Coalition also addressed international market conditions.

The agenda incorporated panels on carbon footprint and sustainability led by Jorge Hilbert from Energy & Environmental Consulting Services and Sabine Papendieck from Estrateco, who coordinates the Argentine Carbon Neutral Program. A videoconference session covered sustainable aviation fuel as an emerging global market for sugarcane bioethanol, presented by SAF specialist Damiana Serafini. Patrick Adam, executive director of the Corn Bioethanol Chamber, participated in discussions on productive development alongside Martín Giaccio, undersecretary for regional economies at the national Economy Ministry. Representatives from five sugar mills in the Northwest—Leales, La Florida, Concepción, Ledesma, and Seaboard—addressed regional challenges and opportunities in a closing panel moderated by Sebastián Budeguer of IPAAT’s board.