Mining News - May 2026

Legislative News

 

Decree 266 of the Ministry of Government and Justice of Salta, published in the Official Gazette of Salta on May 6, 2026

 

Approves the Agreement Record (“Acta Acuerdo”) “Technical Assistance for the Lithium Mining Region, entered into between the Provinces of Salta, Jujuy, and Catamarca, and the Federal Investment Council.

This Agreement Record formalizes a regional strategy, with technical assistance from the Federal Investment Council (CFI), aimed at strengthening the management of lithium mining in northern Argentina, by reinforcing the institutional structure, governance, and joint management systems among the said provinces.

It also promotes the development of sustainable lithium mining and the strengthening of the mining value chain. To be implemented, it contemplates signing specific agreements and forming a regional technical team responsible for defining priority assistance areas and the work agenda.

 

Resolution 712 of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, published in the Official Gazette of  Neuquén on May 8, 2026

 

This Resolution establishes that all environmental public hearings required for projects with an environmental impact assessment may be conducted in person, virtually, or in a mixed format, as the authority establishes.

 

Law 5940 – Decree 626 of the Provincial Legislature of Catamarca, published in the Official Gazette of Catamarca on May 22, 2026

 

It approves in all its parts the Agreement for the Facilitation and Promotion of the Diablillos–Plata Mining Project, signed by the Executive Branch of Catamarca and the Executive Branch of the Province of Salta on March 27, 2025.

The agreement comprises four protocols intended to consolidate a scheme of interprovincial cooperation in the border area where the project is being developed. These establish common guidelines in environmental, technical, and tax matters, and include the creation of an Interprovincial Management Committee for monitoring the project to facilitate environmental control, administrative coordination, and mining oversight through specific subcommissions. The regime reinforces shared governance, promotes legal certainty, and provides for an equitable scheme of royalty distribution, subject to control and traceability mechanisms.

 

Judicial News

 

"Provincia de La Pampa y Otros c/ Estado Nacional s/ Amparo, Registrados Ley 16986," FBB 4471/2026, ruling of the Federal Court of Santa Rosa, issued on May 8, 2026

 

The Federal Court of Santa Rosa denied the temporary injunction that sought to suspend the reform of the Glacier Law 27804, because it failed to establish concrete or imminent environmental harm. Notwithstanding, it admitted the collective amparo action brought against the Federal State and allowed it to proceed on the merits, keeping open the debate over the constitutionality of the statute.

 

"Honorable Concejo Deliberante de El Calafate y Otros c/ Estado Nacional Argentino - Presidencia de la Nación s/ Amparo Ambiental" 5187/2026/2, interlocutory ruling of the Federal Court of Appeals of Comodoro Rivadavia, issued on June 1, 2026

 

The Federal Court of Appeals of Comodoro Rivadavia overturned the temporary injunction that had suspended the reform of the Glacier Law in Santa Cruz, finding that the lower court's decision was deficiently reasoned and that no imminent harm had been established. It noted that, in the absence of an actual case, the danger in delay was merely conjectural.

As to standing, the court held that the mayor of El Calafate and the provincial legislators cannot hold themselves out as "representatives of the people of an entire province" for actions of this kind, although it did recognize their capacity to act as affected parties.

Finally, it underscored the presumption of legitimacy of statutes and held that a declaration of unconstitutionality, given its exceptional character, requires a concrete impairment of rights, which was not shown at this preliminary stage.

 

Mining in the Media

 

"RIGI accelerates the mining arrival: investments for over USD 7.5 billion already approved," published in Mejor Energía on May 22, 2026

 

Argentine mining has begun to enter an unprecedented stage of expansion driven by the Large Investments Incentive Regime (RIGI), which has already amassed approved projects worth USD 7.511 billion and seeks to position Argentina as one of the major global players in copper and lithium.

 

"Bill introduced to explore rare earths in Argentina, with San Juan on the radar," published in Mineria & Desarrollo on May 29, 2026

 

The bill was introduced by Representative Silvina Giudici. According to a SEGEMAR report, unevaluated mineralizations have been identified in pegmatites in the Valle Fertil department.

The bill's central focus is the amendment of the Mining Code. The intent is to include rare earths—a group of 15 lanthanide elements plus scandium and yttrium—in the first category of mineral substances.