Argentina's frac sand market consumes 7 million tons per year and is growing at 10.2% annually. NRG Argentina — which holds 75% of the market — is in operational collapse under criminal investigation. Chevron, YPF, Vista, Tecpetrol and Pan American are all actively seeking a replacement.
In-Basin Sand is the closest API 19C-certified silica source to the productive North Zone. The logistics advantage translates directly into operating margin:
Source
Distance to Añelo
Delivered price
In-Basin Sand (Malargüe)
~30 km
Target ~USD 100/ton
Rio Negro
200–400 km
USD 90–120/ton
Ibicuy (Entre Rios)
1,400+ km
USD 140/ton (current North Zone price)
Reference price Ibicuy → Añelo: USD 140/ton delivered, confirmed by North Zone operators April 2026. In-Basin Sand reduces freight cost by ~USD 35–40/ton through geographic positioning, preserving 35–45% operating margin.
The asset
Certification, independent validation, contract in motion.
6M+ tons indicated60M+ tons inferred in the deposit. API 19C / ISO 13503-2 certified.
SGS validationSGS Minerals (Chile) report on attrition and granulometry for hydraulic fracturing.
Chevron relationshipTake-or-pay proposal 10,000 t/month (2023) with diesel-indexed pricing. Historic relationship; plant was idle for 18 months. Reconnection in progress post-NDA.
Validated CAPEXCDE Global (Ireland) budget for 200 TPH wash plant: USD 6.8M total capital.
37+ year mine lifeAt full capacity of 15,000 t/month. Campo Mendoza site with certified land surveys.
Access evaluatedHydraulic study for Rio Colorado bridge. Three load ratings (34.5T / 60T / 90T).
Plant in operation
The sand is already moving.
Internal video of the plant processor startup — washing, classification and real on-site processing. Not a render, not a mock-up: the asset in operation.
Operational startup footage — Ezequiel Ruiz / plant team · March 2024.
Phase 1 economics
The numbers.
Phase 1 total capital
USD 450,000
Current bridge round
€150,000 (~USD 160K)
Month 6 production
15,000 t / month
6-month ramp revenue
~USD 2.5M
Estimated payback
< 6 months
OPEX at full capacity
USD 169,000 / month
Reference price
USD 50/ton (validation pending)
Use of proceeds — €150K bridge
Plant pre-CAPEX + adaptation
35%
Month-1 operational startup
40%
Working capital
20%
Legal + corporate
5%
Investment structure
Convertible note. Simple, standard, fast.
Instrument
Secured convertible note
Term
18 months
Interest rate
10% per annum
Conversion discount
20%
Valuation cap
US$8M pre-money
Collateral
Personal guarantee, majority shareholder (S. Kalierof)
Minimum ticket
US$15,000
Maximum ticket
US$50,000
Issuer entity
In-Basin Sand S.A.S. (in formation)
Investor protection: the €150K bridge is an asset-backed convertible note — backed by a personal guarantee from the majority shareholder of the operating vehicle. If the Series A does not occur before maturity, the note is redeemed in cash with accrued interest plus the guarantee. Bridge investors are secured creditors, not pure convertible holders.
Conversion occurs at the next qualifying equity round (Series A), at the lower of a 20% discount to round price or the US$8M pre-money cap. If no qualifying round occurs before maturity, the note is redeemed in cash with accrued interest.
Why now
9-day window.
The NRG collapse creates an immediate supply vacuum. North Zone operators — Chevron, YPF, Vista, Tecpetrol, Pan American — are actively seeking a regional supplier. Entering the market before it resettles captures the premium pricing curve during the 2026 re-zoning.
The €150K bridge activates the plant immediately — before a third party closes the contract that currently sits in proposal stage.
Team
Three continents, one value chain.
TM
Tomas Marty
Strategy & Capital
West Cork, Ireland · ex-Kreditech (German unicorn backed by Peter Thiel and Rakuten). 15 years in finance and business scaling across Europe and Latin America. Leads fundraising and international structuring.
Marcelo Marty
Director of Operations
Buenos Aires · 25+ years of international executive experience in Oil & Gas and port operations. Former Country Manager at NRC Egypt (BP compliance), former General Manager at Transbordo Ibicuy S.A. (iron ore terminal for VALE — 1M t/year), former Regional Ops Manager at SEACOR Environmental (USAID / PetroCanada). Internal Auditor ISO 9001 / 14001 / OHSAS 18001. LinkedIn →
San Juan, Argentina · majority shareholder of the operating vehicle. Provides the bridge financial guarantees, technical due diligence, and direct access to the Argentine mining ecosystem (services, juniors, contractors).
Documentation
Data Room.
Digital data room. Direct access, no password. All files open on mobile or desktop.
Pending confirmation during due diligence: mining concession, Environmental Impact Assessment, water rights, formal corporate structure. Original documents exist and are shared in direct calls with serious parties. Request at info@inbasinsand.com.
Next step
Talk to the Argentina team.
Direct contacts are based in Argentina — operations (Buenos Aires) and mining network (San Juan). Response within 24 business hours.
Operations · Buenos Aires
Marcelo Marty
25+ years in Oil & Gas, port operations and HSE. ex-NRC Egypt · ex-VALE · ex-SEACOR
