The United States is launching the Andes-Atlantic Corridor to expand investments in Argentina’s energy and mineral sectors, backed by a preliminary US$6 billion financing proposal from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Announced by the State Department, the initiative represents the first Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Corridor in the Western Hemisphere, designed to ease transportation and export bottlenecks for natural gas, oil, lithium, and copper.
Andes-Atlantic Corridor Targets Infrastructure Bottlenecks
The newly established corridor aims to connect Argentina’s resource-rich regions directly with Atlantic ports and Western markets. According to the State Department, the strategy focuses on investing in rail networks, pipelines, ports, power and digital infrastructure. These upgrades are intended to support rising commodity exports and strengthen U.S.-linked energy and critical-minerals supply chains as production scales up.
Industrial Info Resources tracks extensive project pipelines across the country that require this infrastructure expansion. Data show more than 500 oil and gas production projects in Argentina totaling US$21.82 billion in investments, alongside 240 oil and gas pipeline and terminal projects worth US$9.69 billion. In the rail sector, the initiative targets the rehabilitation of the Belgrano, San Martin, and Urquiza freight lines, where tracking data accounts for 135 projects representing just over US$1 billion in investments.
U.S. Export-Import Bank Backs LNG and Critical Minerals
U.S. financing agencies are mobilizing alongside the private sector to fund corridor projects. As part of this push, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) issued a non-binding term sheet for up to US$6 billion to support Argentina LNG. This integrated US$51 billion project, led by YPF, aims to export natural gas from the Vaca Muerta formation through a liquefied natural gas export terminal with an initial capacity of 12 million tonnes per annum, expandable to 18 million tonnes per annum.
“EXIM is moving boldly into the industries of the future. To do this, we must secure our supply chains, support American jobs, and ensure American workers, products, and expertise reach all parts of the Western Hemisphere,” EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic said in a statement.
Separately, EXIM signed a framework to mobilize up to US$7 billion through 2027. This funding targets critical minerals, energy security, grid modernization, and digital connectivity.
Mining Expansion in Lithium and Copper
The long-term strategic vision addresses emerging sectors such as copper mining, where billions of dollars in new developments require reliable export routes. Industrial Info Resources data identify 331 metals and mineral projects in Argentina representing US$75.93 billion in investments.
Lithium mining accounts for 85 of those projects, representing US$26.19 billion. Copper mining comprises 54 projects valued at US$38.58 billion. While Argentina currently lacks large-scale copper operations, forecasts indicate the country could produce roughly 1.5 million tonnes of copper by 2035 based on its current project pipeline.
Argentina’s Investment Regime Supports Growth
The U.S. financing push coincides with domestic economic measures implemented by the Argentine government. In 2024, the Argentine government introduced the Incentive Regime for Large Investment, known as RIGI. The framework provides fiscal, customs, foreign exchange, and legal benefits to qualifying projects that meet a minimum investment threshold of US$200 million.
Over a dozen projects across mining, oil and gas, energy transport, renewables, and ports have already gained approval under the RIGI framework, aligning local regulatory incentives with foreign financing objectives to accelerate commodity exports.
Worth a look