Mining News - August 2023

Legislative News

 

Resolution No. 96/2023 of the National Mining Secretariat of the Ministry of Economy, published in the Official Gazette on August 7, 2023

This Resolution creates the “National Program of Systematic Divulgation of the Mining Activity” (ProNDSAM) to give hierarchy to the processes of systematic divulgation of mining information and to regulate the operation of the Information System Open to the Community on the Mining Activity in Argentina (SIACAM).

Decree No. 478 of the General Government Secretariat, published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Salta on August 09, 2023

This Decree approves the Agreement “CFI Credits for Mining Suppliers”, entered into between the Federal Investment Council and the Government of the Province of Salta. Its purpose is to financially assist Mining Suppliers, specifically micro, small, and medium-sized companies in the Province of Salta that have registered before the Provincial Registry of Local Suppliers of Mining Companies, in the incorporation of investments in fixed assets and associated working capital. For such purpose, the Federal Investment Council will count with ARS 150,000,000.

Provision No. 12 of the Official Gazette General Directorate, published in the Official Gazette of Salta on August 11, 2023

This Provision incorporates to the Self-Management System for Publications, the news and edicts published in the Judicial Section of the Official Gazette, among them the publications of mining concessions, exploration permits, discovery of deposits, measurement, delineation and demarcation, expiration of mines, and all those established in the Mining Code. The publications will be processed virtually on the web page www.boletinoficialsalta.gob.ar, after users register and the General Directorate of the Official Gazette validates their profiles.

Decree Agreement No. 8854-DEyP/2023, published in the Official Gazette of the Province on August 18, 2023

This Decree creates a Provincial Registry of Local Mining Suppliers and imposes conditions to the Mining Producers for the supplier hiring regime. It also establishes that producers must hire works,  and/or services and purchase goods and supplies from local suppliers registered before the Registry, for at least  75% of the total annual amount contracted. The decree also regulates different penalties in case of non-compliance.

Provision no. 2023-77-E-CAT-DPM#MM of the Provincial Directorate of Mining, published in the Official Gazette of Catamarca on September 1, 2023

This Provision updates the mining annual fee for third-category tax sites and ratifies the method of payment in section No. 216 of the Mining Code and section 2 of the DPM Provision No. 64/2016.

 

Mining in the Media

 

“San Juan Adds Lithium: Metal Found in Clay”, news published in Huarpe on August 01, 2023

The Canadian company Origen Resources, which is exploring the area of Los Sapitos in the Department of Iglesia, Province of San Juan, issued an official statement announcing the positive results of its last lithium exploration campaign, which shows in a clay deposit higher values than those found in nearby salt flats.

“New Lithium Battery Plant to Be Inaugurated in September Will Have 50% Local Integration”, news published in Ámbito on August 02, 2023

The state-owned company Y-TEC, the technological arm of YPF, will inaugurate in September the first lithium battery cell plant in La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires. Another plant in Santiago del Estero, five times the size of the one in La Plata, will start operating in 2024. “We want to position ourselves as leaders in the industrialization of lithium in the region”, said Roberto Salvarezza, President of Y-TEC and YPF Litio, in an interview with Ámbito. He anticipated that they are carrying out three projects to develop local suppliers and aim at 50% of batteries to have national contents.

“Lithium in Argentina: The Country Is on Its Way to Being Among the Top Three Lithium Suppliers in the World”, news published in Telám on August 21, 2023

Argentina is currently the fourth largest lithium carbonate producer in the world, with three projects in commercial operation: Salar de Olaroz and Olaroz de Cauchari, both in the Province of Jujuy, and Fénix, in Catamarca. Besides this, the country is on its way to becoming the third largest producer, as a consequence of the global demand and the progress of other projects under construction, which will allow it to triple its current production by 2026 and reach 260,000 tons of lithium carbonate, according to official estimates.

“Catamarca: An Australian Mining Company Obtained Permits to Produce Lithium”, news published in TN on August 22, 2023

The mining company Galan Lithium began the construction of a lithium extraction megaproject in Salar del Hombre Muerto, in the Province of Catamarca. The Australian company obtained the permits that will allow it to install a lithium carbonate production plant, with an investment of over USD 100 million and plans to start producing lithium chloride in the first half of 2025.

“An Almost Sci-Fi Mining Camp in San Juan”, news published in Los Andes San Juan on August 23, 2023

The Los Azules project will build a camp based on regenerative principles and will be prepared to host, initially, 1,000 workers. This design will rank the mine as the most environmentally-friendly in the world and will cost USD 193 million, which equals to building two and a half standard camps.

“Mining Exports Climbed 24.1% in July and Are Up 4.3% Yearly”, news published in El Economista on August 30, 2023

Mineral exports reached a total of USD 377 million in July, representing an increase of 24.1% year-on-year, as reported by the Ministry of Mining. In the first seven months of 2023, USD 2,321 million were accumulated in external sales of the sector, which means a 4.3% year-on-year growth.

Further, the accumulated in 2023 stands at 11.7% above the average level of the 2010 – 2022 period.