OpenAI and Sur Energy Launch $25 Billion AI Data Center Project in Argentina
OpenAI and Sur Energy plan a $25 billion, 500MW AI data center in Argentina under a favorable tax initiative, aiming to advance AI access and infrastructure in Latin America.
- • OpenAI and Sur Energy signed a letter of intent to develop a $25 billion data center in Argentina with 500MW capacity.
- • The project is part of OpenAI's Stargate initiative to invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure over four years.
- • The data center will be built under Argentina's RIGI tax break scheme, highlighting a major tech and energy investment.
- • Sam Altman emphasized the aim to democratize AI access across Argentina, enhancing the region's AI landscape.
Key details
OpenAI, best known for ChatGPT, has joined forces with Sur Energy to initiate a landmark $25 billion data center project in Argentina. This facility will have a robust capacity of up to 500 megawatts dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence computing, marking a transformative investment in Argentina's technological and energy landscape.
The project is part of the initial phase of OpenAI's ambitious Stargate initiative, which aims to pour $500 billion into AI infrastructure across the U.S. over the next four years. However, the Argentina endeavor stands out as a significant international extension, structured under Argentina’s RIGI tax break scheme established last year, making it possibly one of the largest tech and energy infrastructural efforts in the country’s history.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted the broader vision behind the project — to democratize AI access throughout Argentina, enhancing both accessibility and innovation regionally. The joint venture includes an international cloud infrastructure developer, with OpenAI set to be the primary purchaser of data center capacity. Sur Energy, an enterprise focused on sustainable digital infrastructure in Latin America and founded by Argentine entrepreneurs, underscores the project's commitment to blending renewable energy with cutting-edge AI needs.
Argentina’s government emphasized the project’s scale and transformative potential, with the facility touted for generating as much as 500 MW. This initiative comes at a time when Argentina is rapidly emerging as a key player on the global digital and energy stage, leveraging its renewable resources and participating in innovative programs like the U.S. FIRST nuclear research for small reactors in Patagonia.
Argentina’s leading position in digital adoption and AI engagement, demonstrated by its top-five ranking in Latin America for paid AI subscriptions and Buenos Aires’ status as a ChatGPT usage hub, further underlines the country's growing prominence. The successful realization of this data center will not only bolster Argentina’s AI infrastructure but also serve as a model for sustainable, high-impact tech investments in the region.