Mining News - April 2026

Legislative News

Resolution 431/2026 of the Ministry of Economy, published in the Official Gazette on April 06, 2026

It approves including in the Large Investments Incentive Regime (RIGI) the Phase 1B Expansion project of Minera del Altiplano SA (dedicated branch), located in the Province of Catamarca, with an estimated investment of USD 251.3 million.

Court Resolution 14628 of the Court of Justice of Salta, published in the Official Gazette of Salta on April 17, 2026

This Resolution establishes the implementation of the Digital Case File System (SED) in the Mining Court  as of May 18, 2026. As of that date, all proceedings must be conducted exclusively in digital format. The Resolution especially establishes that:

(a) In discovery filings, applicants must submit the legal sample physically on the business day following the filing of the virtual submission.

(b) Applications for the registration of documents, contracts, or court rulings will require submitting the original documentation within a peremptory period of five business days.

(c) Plans attached to digital filings must be submitted in high-resolution PDF format.

(d) Registry books must remain valid in paper form until the regulations governing their digital migration are enacted.

Law 27804 on Minimum Standards for the Protection of Glaciers and the Periglacial Environment, published in the Official Gazette on April 24, 2026

It introduces amendments to the Law on Minimum Standards for the Protection of Glaciers and the Periglacial Environment (Law 26639). It especially modifies articles 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and incorporates new article 3 bis.

Among the main changes is the definition of the scope of protection, which now establishes that only those glacial or periglacial geoforms that are strategic water reserves or have a significant hydrological influence are subject to protection.

Consequently, where such conditions are not met, the prohibitions in the law do not apply.

Provision 187 of the Undersecretariat of Water Resources of the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, and Water Resources of the Province of Neuquen, published in the Official Gazette of Neuquen on April 28, 2026

It sets the basic fee for using and exploiting public water for industrial purposes—classified as use U.3.1—at ARS 1,012.55, applicable to water consumption as of May 1, 2026.

Judicial News

Honorable Concejo Deliberante de El Calafate Y Otros C/ Estado Nacional Argentino - Presidencia De La Nación S/Amparo Ambiental, judgment issued on April 24, 2026. Federal Court of Rio Gallegos

Within the framework of a class action amparo filed by authorities of El Calafate (City Council, Executive Branch, and legislators), the Federal Court of Rio Gallegos issued a temporary injunction ordering the Federal Government to refrain from applying, implementing, or authorizing any acts or decisions based on the amendment to the Glaciers Law.

This measure applies throughout the Province of Santa Cruz and will remain in force insofar as such acts may enable activities likely to affect glaciers and/or the environment, until a final judgment is rendered in the case.

Provincia de la Pampa y otros c/Estado Nacional s/Amparo Ley 16.986, ruling issued on April 28, 2026. Federal Court of Santa Rosa, Civil Clerk’s Office

The court ordered registering the amparo action filed by the Province of La Pampa as a collective proceeding in the Special Registry of the Argentine Supreme Court.

The action seeks a declaration of the unconstitutionality, unconventionality under international law, and nullity of the reform.

The action—also subscribed by the National University of La Pampa, the Chadileuvu Foundation, and the Assembly for Pampean Rivers—challenges Law 27804 on the grounds that the reform entails an unjustified regulatory setback, as it lowers the level of protection of strategic ecosystems linked to Argentina’s water reserves.

In this context, claimants requested a temporary injunction to declare the immediate inapplicability of the law throughout the national territory, suspend its effects, and order the Federal State and the provinces to refrain from carrying out actions based on the reform.

The temporary injunction was denied, on the grounds that the required likelihood of success on the merits had not been sufficiently established and that suspending a law enacted by Congress with general effects would constitute an inadmissible interference with the checks and balances.

Mining in the media

“Australian and Canadian companies drive lithium exploration in Argentina,” published in Energias Renovables on April 5, 2026

Mining companies Explore, a Canadian-owned company, and Power Minerals, of Australian origin, have entered into a preliminary agreement to jointly develop the Salta project, located in northwestern Argentina. The partnership aims to advance five salt flats (Incahuasi, Arizaro, Rincón, Pocitos, and Pular) using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology.

“Chile and Argentina agree to unlock binational mining cluster with major economic potential,” published in BNamericas on April 7, 2026

The presidents of Chile and Argentina agreed to strengthen mining integration ties and modernize cross-border infrastructure during a meeting in the City of Buenos Aires, signaling political support for a binational mining cluster with significant economic potential.

“Oil production hits record levels and double-digit jump in lithium: the figures underpinning mining growth in Argentina,” published in Infobae on April 9, 2026

The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) reported that mining activity in Argentina maintained a positive trend during the first two months of 2026. The overall Mining Industrial Production Index (IPI) recorded a cumulative increase of 4.4% compared to the same period of the previous year. This growth is driven by the performance of two key sectors: crude oil extraction and the non-metallic minerals category, which includes lithium carbonate.