Mining News

Legislative news

Resolution No. 161/2021 issued by the Mining Secretariat, published in the Official Gazette on 06/10/2021 (National)

The Resolution approves the “General Guidelines for the Closure of Mines with Financial Guarantees in Argentina” (the “Guidelines”) to serve as a framework and provide uniformity and coherence to the regulations and public policies on Mine Closure.

The purpose of these Guidelines is to help ensure that all mines operating in Argentina result in benefits derived from responsible mine closure. To that end, they focus on two key aspects of that responsibility:

1) Planning, through formal and regularly updated closure plans established from the initial stages of the project and elaborated to cover engineering, environmental, social, economic, and financial aspects.

2) Guaranteed availability of necessary and sufficient funds, through adequate financial instruments, to carry out the closure, regardless of the circumstances and the time at which operations end.

The aim of these guidelines is, within the framework of public policies, to outline the construction of legislative provisions on the subject so as to provide uniformity and coherence to the policies and regulations on mine closure in Argentina.

In view of the country’s mineral resources, the aim is also to ensure adequate resource management during the life cycle of the mine so as to obtain long-term economic benefits, within an environmental protection framework and promotion of the circular economy.

Finally, the resolution invites the Provinces, the City of Buenos Aires and the provincial Municipalities to adopt the Guidelines within their respective jurisdictions and instructs the Directorate of Federal Mining Affairs, within the framework of the Federal Mining Council, to provide assistance to the Provinces in the implementation of the Guidelines.

Mining in the media

“Livent mining company will invest USD 640 million to expand lithium production in Catamarca” article published by Télam on 05/04/2021

The US mining company Livent announced an investment of USD 640 million for the implementation of its expansion works in the Fenix Project, which will allow it to increase lithium production in the Salar del Hombre Muerto of Antofagasta de la Sierra, located in the Province of Catamarca.

The company reported that it is the second lithium carbonate production plant that will undergo a construction process in nearly three years.

“By the end of the Veladero mine in 2033, USD 409 million will have been invested” article published by Diario of Cuyo on 05/10/2021

Barrick's Executive Director in Argentina and Chile announced that an infrastructure disbursement of approximately USD 409 million over the next 12 years is foreseen for the new investment plan for the Veladero mine located in Iglesia. The investment will be made by 2033, by which time the mine's production is estimated to end if new developments are not found in explorations. In addition, the director also announced that in September construction will begin on phase 7 of the expansion of the Leaching Valley mine, which will involve an investment of more than 100 million dollars.

“Sergio Uñac met virtually with executives of a mining company’’ article published by Sí San Juan on 05/15/2021

The executives of Mineros S.A. informed the governor about the progress of the deep carbonates project, through which they plan to extend the useful life of the Gualcamayo mine until 2025, with an investment ranging from 200 to 500 million dollars.