Their construction and operation required a monumental investment and specialized technical knowledge, which is now being transferred to the private sector . The government of Javier Milei has announced the sale of four of these plants located in the Comahue region, between the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro: Alicurá, El Chocón-Arroyito, Cerros Colorados, and Piedra del Águila . This measure is part of a privatization policy that seeks to reduce state participation and obtain foreign currency.

The decision to privatize these plants, which were built with the country's capital and efforts, is strongly criticized by the nation's scientific and political sectors . It is argued that this action represents a liquidation of national assets at bargain prices , as the State is divesting itself of strategic companies that allow it to maintain energy sovereignty and control over the prices and distribution of electricity. By selling them, the ability to regulate a vital sector is lost and a key resource is left in the hands of private interests, which will prioritize profitability over the needs of citizens .

This transfer occurs in a context where the original concessions had expired, and the State had the opportunity to regain full control of these infrastructures, which supply a significant portion of the country's energy matrix. The sale not only has an economic impact but is also a political decision that weakens the role of the State and its ability to plan long-term. Furthermore, the argument that the private sector will generate "real and sustainable prices" runs counter to history, where the privatization of public services in the past has resulted in tariff increases and lower service quality, benefiting a few at the expense of the majority.