Mining News - April 2025

Legislative News
 

Resolution 110 of the Mendoza Mining Director, published in the Official Gazette of Mendoza on April 3, 2025
 

This resolution establishes the classification of the infractions listed in article 203 of the Mining Procedure Code of Mendoza. These infractions are categorized as minor, serious, and very serious offenses.

Additionally, the Resolution creates the Register of Offenders, which will be maintained by the Notary Office of Mines within the Mining Directorate. This registry will record all sanctions imposed by the mining authority for violations of the Mining Procedure Code of Mendoza, the Mining Code, and other applicable mining regulations.

Resolution 130 of the Mendoza Mining Directorate, published in the Official Gazette of Mendoza on April 10, 2025
 

This resolution approves the Free, Prior and Informed Consultation Protocol addressed to Indigenous Communities located in the Province of Mendoza, in accordance with the ILO Convention 169, the Argentine Constitution, and the Constitution of the Province of Mendoza. Following the Convention, it reaffirms the Argentine State’s obligation to guarantee indigenous peoples’ right to free, prior, and informed consultation whenever legislative or administrative measures that may directly affect them are under consideration.

Resolution 009 of the Secretary of Mining and Energy of the Province of Salta, published in the Official Gazette of Salta on April 25, 2025

This resolution updates the daily per diem rates the interested party has to pay for inspections specified in the Mining Procedures Code of Salta. These include the expenses for mining inspections to verify compliance with legal obligations and the costs of surveyance carried out by an official expert.

Provision 038 of the Secretary of Mining of the Province of Santa Cruz, published in the Official Gazette of Santa Cruz on April 29, 2025

This provision updates the registration fees for the Registry of Mining Producers, as stipulated in article 1 of Law 1992. The updated amounts are: a) ARS 1,055,000 for holders of more than 10 first-category mines, discovery declarations, and exploration permits (whether granted or not).
b) ARS 585,700 for holders of fewer than 10 first-category mines, discovery declarations, and exploration permits (whether granted or not).
c) ARS 585,700 for holders of more than 10 second-category mines, discovery declarations, and exploration permits (whether granted or not).
d) ARS 351,000 for holders of fewer than 10 second-category mines, discovery declarations, and exploration permits (whether granted or not).
e) ARS 234,000 for holders of quarries.
f) ARS 117,000 for companies engaged in transportation of minerals.
g) ARS 1,055,000 for companies that—through any type of contract—exploit and/or explore minerals within the province, even without holding mining rights.
h) No charge will be applied for registering fixed establishments operated in an artisanal manner.

Provision 039 of the Secretary of Mining of the Province of Santa Cruz, published in the Official Gazette of Santa Cruz on April 29, 2025

This provision sets the value of each Mineral Transport Guide at ARS 1,516 for all mining companies operating in the province of Santa Cruz.

Mining in the Media

“Mining production grew 1.8% year-on-year in February 2025, according to Indec”, published by Energía Online on April 9, 2025

In February 2025, the Mining Industrial Production Index recorded a 1.8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. The cumulative figure for January–February 2025 shows a 2.4% rise compared to the same period of the previous year, according to data from the Argentine Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC).

“Argentina boosts mining competitiveness with RIGI, surpasses Chile and Peru”, published by InfoEnergía on April 22, 2025

Argentina’s mining sector has gained ground in the regional race thanks to the implementation of the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), which has eased the tax burden and positioned the country ahead of Chile and Peru in terms of attractiveness for large-scale copper projects. This is according to a recent report by international consultancy CRU, which analyzed the impact of the new legal framework on five major copper ventures.

“Taca Taca, the copper and gold project aiming to restore the mining railway in Salta,” published in Ámbito Financiero on April 23, 2025

The Province of Salta is poised to become the epicenter of a historic transformation in the Argentine mining sector. This transformation centers around the “Taca Taca” project, a large-scale copper and gold initiative currently in the pre-feasibility stage, led by the company First Quantum Minerals. The project is expected to position the province as a key national and international producer of copper, gold, and molybdenum, minerals considered essential for the global energy transition. The megaproject contemplates an annual production capacity of approximately 250,000 metric tons of refined copper, in addition to significant outputs of gold and molybdenum.

“Arminera, the leading mining event in the country, arrives with a varied agenda of activities,” published in Ámbito Financiero on April 29, 2025

ARMINERA, recognized as the main mining exhibition in the Argentine Republic, will take place in Buenos Aires from May 20 to May 22, 2025. The event will bring together the most prominent stakeholders within the mining industry, including representatives from mining provinces and mineral-producing countries. The exhibition is organized by the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies (CAEM) in collaboration with Messe Frankfurt Argentina.