Stablecoin issuer Tether has denied widespread native media stories that it’s exiting Uruguay over a $4.8 million debt dispute with one of many nation’s state-owned electrical energy entities.
According to native information supply Telemundo, Tether deserted its crypto mining operations and future plans after the National Administration of Power Plants and Electric Transmissions (UTE) unplugged energy at its amenities for failing to pay a $2 million electrical energy invoice for May.
It additionally reported that Tether additionally owed round $2.8 million for different native initiatives, bringing its complete liabilities to roughly $4.8 million, excluding fines and surcharges, Telemundo mentioned on Saturday, citing fellow native information outlet Busqueda, which first reported the information two days earlier.
But Tether knocked again the stories in feedback to Cointelegraph on Monday, stating: “We proceed to judge one of the best ways ahead in Uruguay and the area extra broadly. While stories have speculated an exit from the area, these don’t precisely replicate the scenario.”
Tether acknowledged the debt dilemma, stating that the native firm working the crypto mining amenities has been partaking in “ongoing discussions with the federal government to resolve the excellent friction.”
“Tether stays supportive of those efforts and of a constructive path ahead that displays our long-term dedication to sustainable alternatives within the area.”
Tether introduced plans to start crypto mining in Uruguay in November 2023, with native media projecting the ventures might attain $500 million in funding.
Electricity prices in Uruguay is excessive by LATAM requirements
While Tether denied exiting, native stories linked the alleged shutdown to excessive electrical energy prices, which Tether didn’t touch upon. Uruguay’s comparatively excessive electrical energy prices have made it much less enticing for energy-intensive operations reminiscent of crypto mining and AI.
In Uruguay, electrical energy costs vary from about $60 to $180 per megawatt hour (MWh), far larger than in neighboring nation Paraguay, the place electrical energy might be produced for round $22 MWh from the Itaipu hydropower plant.
Tether additionally runs Bitcoin mining amenities in Paraguay.
Tether wouldn’t have been the primary crypto miner to go away Uruguay
In 2018, South American Bitcoin mining firm Vici Mining moved its amenities to Paraguay from Uruguay to capitalize on the cheaper electrical energy prices.
Vici engineer Nicolás Ribeiro advised Telemundo: “If you look globally on the common electrical energy value, Uruguay is nicely above it. Although it’s all the time a problem to arrange in a brand new nation, if you have a look at this business and notice that 80% of your working price is electrical energy, it’s a very vital issue when deciding the place to ascertain your self.”
Ribeiro mentioned the dispute with Tether ought to function a “warning sign” to policymakers in regards to the challenges of attracting and retaining energy-intensive industries.
Tether was reportedly negotiating with UTE for a brand new facility, the place it requested decreased electrical energy charges. Tether didn’t touch upon that matter.
Stablecoin adoption on the rise in LATAM
Meanwhile, three automobile makers — Toyota, Yamaha, and BYD — not too long ago began accepting the Tether (USDT) stablecoin for cost in Bolivia to deal with the nation’s shrinking US greenback reserves.
In Colombia, Western Union rival MoneyGram introduced that its crypto funds app would provide locals an answer to save in US greenback stablecoins because the Colombian peso continues to weaken.
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