Mining News - April 2023

Legislative News

 

Resolution No. 146/2023, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, published in the Official Gazette on April 24, 2023

This resolution approves the second National Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan and its Annexed Adaptation, Mitigation, or Loss and Damage Measures Cards, and regulates several practices related to the mining activity.

Resolution No. 2023-535 issued by the Secretariat of Environment and Climate Change, published in the Official Gazette of Río Negro on  April 27, 2023

This resolution approves the “Provincial Climate Change Response Plan (2022-2030)”, which regulates several practices linked to the mining activity.

Provision No. 94/2023, issued by the Undersecretariat of Industries of the Ministry of Economy, published in the Official Gazette on May 2, 2023

This provision summons companies belonging to the mining sector who want to access the “National Program for the Development of Suppliers”, endorsed by the National Directorate of Strategic Projects, to register following the instructions in the in the Rules and Conditions of the "National Program for the Development of Suppliers 2023”.

The call is extended until July 31, 2023 or until the budget quota is exhausted (whichever occurs first).

 

Mining in the Media

 

“Record lithium exports: USD 91 million in March and 233 million in the first quarter of the year”, news published by Infobae on April 16, 2023

The National Mining Secretariat informed that with the USD 91 million of lithium carbonate exports –the highest in the last 4 years for this month and 93% above the value of March 2022– Argentina exported a total of USD 233 million of this mineral that’s critical for the energy transition in the first quarter of the year. This represented an increase of 133%, compared to the same period last year.

“Lithium: Australian mining company invests USD 1.5 billion to quadruple production”, news published in Ámbito Financiero on April 19, 2023

Allkem, one of the 5 most important companies in the world producing lithium-based chemicals, will invest USD 1.5 billion to expand its industrial facility in the Salar de Olaroz, Jujuy. This will allow the company to triple its lithium carbonate production.

“Mining exports in Argentina achieve highest level in 13 years”, news published by Inversor Energético on April 24 ,2023

According to the latest report presented by the Mining Transparency and Information Office of the Undersecretariat of Mining Development, in March exports reached USD 340 million, accumulating a total of USD 1,020 million during the first 3 months of 2023.

Exports between January and April reflected a year-on-year increase of 17%. Moreover, the cumulative figure so far in 2023 is 13% more than the period between 2010 and 2022, representing the highest level in the last 13 years.

“Catamarca and Salta united by lithium”, news published by Página 12 on April 27, 2023

The Provinces of Catamarca and Salta announced today they will start working in the cooperation zone corresponding to the Sal de Oro lithium project, in the Salar de Hombre Muerto salt flat, a border area in dispute.

The project belongs to the Korean company Posco Argentina SAU and, according to the information provided, it is ready to start construction work, right after the Salta and Catamarca environmental enforcement authorities issue the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) permits. Sal de Oro committed to invest USD 700 million and expects to hire over 1,000 employees in the construction phase and 380 in the operation phase.