“There is a lot of capital available in the world to invest in digital infrastructure.”

Huge data center with investments amounting to 25 billion US dollars Which was announced to be installed in Patagonia to supply OpenAIGiant behind ChatGPTalready has a construction and operation start date: It plans to start work on the building and systems in 2026 and have it operational in 2027.

And this is how you advance it Emiliano Kargimanthe Argentine co-founder of Sur energythe local company he partnered with OpenAI To implement the project Stargatewhich it promises to be The largest technological infrastructure in the history of Argentina It seeks to transform the country into the main hub for artificial intelligence (AI) supply in the region.

In this regard, Casa Rosada highlighted that OpenAI’s interest “reflects interest in investing in technological infrastructure that expands the scope of AI globally, in line with Argentina’s plans to Consolidating it as a center for sustainable innovation“.

Although OpenAI has other initiatives in Europe and Asia, this one… This will be the first of its kind in Latin America and the most ambitious. Although you will not invest directly, Promise to buy all the power That the installation will generate and provide for at least 15 years.

“We will submit the application to RIGI in early 2026“, submit it Clarion Kargeman talks about the planned registration in the incentive system, at the annual forum held by the consulting company Abisp.

The entrepreneur is also the founder and CEO of a small satellite company Satellologic. The development of the data center was thought up in collaboration with Matthias TravisanoHe is also an Argentinean and a friend of a physicist who died in a mountain climbing accident in California.

It was September, a few days ago Advertisement made by Kargeman for Javier Maile In October with Chris Lehaneof OpenAI who worked in the 1990s as press secretary to the Vice President of the United States.

Travisano was in contact with Miley through Demian Riedelformer senior advisor and current president of Nucleoelectrica Argentina SAthe state nuclear energy company that the government is seeking to privatize. After Miley’s visit to Silicon Valley, the idea of ​​turning Argentina into an AI hub gained steam.

“The creators of Sur Energy are three technology entrepreneurs. I no longer live in Silicon Valley, but I have for many years. My partner Matt lived in San Francisco and Stan Chudnovsky “It lives there,” Kargeman said of the leaders behind the company that implements data center projects that combine advanced technology and clean energy to drive global AI growth.

Regarding choosing where to bet, he admitted this They will determine the location “based on a series of criteria in the coming months.” The nominated provinces are Rio Negro, Neuquén, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego.This is due to the extensive use of energy that the project will require.

“We have five potential locations With characteristics related to high voltage lines and substations needed to deliver power, and Fiber optic connection required To get the data. next to, There must be a population nearby “To support the construction period, which will require a few thousand employees, and then move to about 100 in the operational period,” he said in detail about the conditions that the place would have to meet and the workforce that the Stargate would use.

Exchange includes a The first tranche amounts to between US$7,000 million and US$8,000 million To put 100 megawatt capacity online in 2027, and A The second phase, which would raise the number to 25,000 million US dollars Planned, with expansion to 500 MW.

Asked about Origin of capitalKarjiman came forward with this It will come from the private sector. “It is investment funds managed by the largest international managers that finance this type of project. In Argentina, this is not common. But There is a lot of capital available to invest in digital infrastructure In the world. It is possible that some multilateral organizations will also participate,” he said, without mentioning names.

Sur Energy has already signed a contract Agreement with a cloud solutions developer And also with central Puerto and Guineaenergy companies that will provide you with renewable energy.

According to the businessmanOpenAI was the first to decide to make this leap Because it began to think about how to distribute its computing centers outside the United States. Stargate has already opened in Norway and the UK, and they have announced an opening in the UAE. They do this type of project in different places around the world.He explained.

He admitted that too Argentina’s alliance with the United States It influenced decision making. “The export of GPU boards, a component used to activate artificial intelligence, is controlled by the United States. They are not sent anywhere in the world. So, Today the relationship is important“, highlight the link between Javier Miley and Donald Trump.

“The country emerged as a meaningful place within Latin America. One of the historical problems we face in attracting this type of investment is high volatility. We didn’t have any specific communications after the election, but from the point of view of anyone who is going to invest or enter into a contract in the country, regardless of who the government is, Continuity is a positive thing“, Analyze the post-election context.

And he announced it Nuclear energy can play a major role in investment. “It’s one of the energy sources these companies are looking at to power data centers. It takes 10 years to get a new reactor up and running. Its growth depends on demand“, he concluded.