The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Board has published its validation report, rating Argentina with a strong score of 80 points and highlighting “notable progress in the subnational implementation of the EITI Standard.” Currently, seven provinces participate in the initiative: Catamarca, Jujuy, Mendoza, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan and Santa Cruz. The report also identifies areas where transparency can be further strengthened.
By Panorama Minero
Following the release of its 2026 Validation Report for Argentina, EITI noted that the country “has achieved a very high overall score of 80 points in implementing the 2023 EITI Standard.” EITI is a global initiative aimed at improving transparency and accountability in extractive industries through the publication, verification and disclosure of key information related to the management of oil, gas and mineral resources. Argentina has been part of the initiative since 2019, alongside more than 50 countries.
The report highlighted “strong stakeholder engagement and significant progress in expanding implementation at the provincial level.” “Argentina has made notable progress in promoting subnational EITI implementation and increasing transparency around state-owned enterprises at the provincial level,” said EITI Board Chair Helen Clark. “Building on these achievements, Argentina can further strengthen transparency by advancing contract disclosure, beneficial ownership transparency and expanding participation in the hydrocarbons sector.”
In this regard, the report notes that gaps remain in beneficial ownership transparency, contract disclosure and participation by key provinces and companies in the hydrocarbons sector.
Argentina implements the initiative in progressive phases, within a framework where natural resource management is largely handled at the provincial level. After joining in 2019, a second phase incorporated Catamarca, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan, Santa Cruz (2023), Mendoza (2024) and Jujuy (2025), covering major mining activities and strengthening coordination between national and provincial authorities.
However, the report notes that key hydrocarbons-producing provinces such as Neuquén and Chubut have not yet begun implementing the EITI Standard, and that participation by oil and gas companies in disclosure and multi-stakeholder processes remains limited.
Argentina’s extractive sector includes oil and gas production, as well as gold, silver, copper and lithium mining. While hydrocarbons remain a major driver of exports, investment and employment, the mining sector is expanding rapidly.
EITI highlighted that implementation of the standard has strengthened systematic disclosure through the Ministry of Economy’s website, which hosts data portals on mining and hydrocarbons, providing information on production, revenues, exports and company payments within the extractive sector.
“At the provincial level, several jurisdictions have developed data portals and information systems that improve accessibility and data quality related to mining licenses and environmental impact assessments, including Catamarca and Santa Cruz,” the report noted. “Through the integration of disclosures from national and provincial authorities, Argentina’s EITI process has improved data availability and created new opportunities for dialogue on extractive sector governance.”
The report also notes that this increased transparency and provincial participation “has broadened the diversity of perspectives represented in EITI discussions, while highlighting the need for stronger outreach initiatives and tailored communication to ensure that local and Indigenous communities are informed and able to participate in discussions on natural resource governance.”
Greater transparency on beneficial ownership
EITI also pointed out that beneficial ownership information is not yet publicly accessible, despite growing public interest, particularly in relation to lithium projects.
“EITI Argentina has taken steps to assess existing barriers through a scoping study developed under the Opening Extractives program,” the report states. Progress in contract and license transparency has remained limited since the previous validation, and confidentiality provisions in tax regulations continue to restrict government disclosure of company-level payment data.
Removing legal barriers and strengthening disclosure in these areas will be important as Argentina continues to attract large-scale investment in its extractive industries, the report concludes.
