{
  "id": 9780707,
  "title": "Argentine Senate approves ‘Cold Zones’ and Central Bank reforms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/argentine-senate-approves-cold-zones-and-central-bank-reforms-9780707",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-25T14:32:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Buenos Aires Herald",
    "slug": "buenos-aires-herald",
    "url": "https://buenosairesherald.com/politics/argentine-senate-approves-cold-zones-and-central-bank-reforms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Argentine Senate recently approved modifications to the \"Cold Zones\" program and changes to the central bank charter. The Cold Zones scheme, implemented in 2002 to aid residents in colder regions of Argentina, was expanded in 2021 to include more provinces. However, the recent Senate approval reduces the number of households eligible for gas subsidies back to its original scope. This includes households earning less than three basic food baskets, approximately AR$4.8 million (US$3,154), and people with disabilities or military veterans. The reform is projected to save the government around US$400 million annually, which will be used to repay debts to gas distributors. However, the number of households affected by this change is disputed, with the government estimating 1.6 million households will lose subsidies and opposition figures estimating 2.5 million. Additionally, the Senate also approved a reform of the Argentine Republic Central Bank's charter, which aims to narrow the bank's mission to preserving the currency's value. The new charter eliminates the Central Bank's ability to grant temporary advances to the national government and imposes strict limits on other forms of financial assistance. The new charter will require a two-thirds majority in the Senate to remove BCRA officials, a provision changed from the original bill approved in the Lower House.",
  "summary": "The changes cut gas subsidies for millions and modify the Central Bank’s charter to prohibit printing money to finance the Treasury La entrada Argentine Senate approves ‘Cold Zones’ and Central Bank reforms se publicó primero en Buenos Aires Herald .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}