Mining News - December 2023

Legislative News
 

Law 3401, published in the Official Gazette of Neuquén on December 8, 2023

This Law establishes the procedure for free, prior, and informed consultation, applicable to indigenous communities that have legal status recognized by the provincial enforcement authority, within the scope of the provincial public administration.

Organic Law of Ministries of the Province of Neuquén  3420, published in the Official Gazette of Neuquén on December 10, 2023

This Law establishes the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources as the competent authority to: (a) exercise, with other agencies, the authority to monitor mining operations and (b) oversee and execute regimes for promoting and encouraging mining production jointly with national, provincial, and municipal agencies; and to encourage export promotion programs. Its dependencies include the Secretariat of Environment and the Undersecretariat of Energy, Mining and Hydrocarbons.

Decree Agreement 0058 of the Government of San Juan, published in the Official Gazette of San Juan on December 13, 2023

This Decree establishes the framework of competences of the Ministry of Mining and its Secretariats, Undersecretariats, and Agencies.

Law 5683 of the Legislature of the Province of Río Negro, published in the Official Gazette of Río Negro on December 14, 2023

This Law establishes the Secretariat of Energy and Environment as the competent authority to: (a) oversee all matters related to the exploration, exploitation, industrialization, transportation and commercialization of mineral and hydrocarbon resources and (b) interfere in the processes of awarding, concession, and/or renegotiation of mining and hydrocarbon areas. Likewise, the Secretariat will, as enforcement authority, supervise and control the mining areas.

Provision 526 of the General Directorate of Mining of La Rioja, published in the Official Gazette of La Rioja on December 15, 2023

This Provision establishes that the General Directorate of Mining will remain closed from December 18, 2023 to February 2, 2024.

Decree 106 of the Ministry of Economy and Public Services of Salta, published in the Official Gazette of Salta on December 21, 2023

This Decree modifies the percentages assigned to municipalities regarding mining royalties, pursuant to article 25 of Law 8229.

Emergency Decree 70/2023 "Bases and Starting Points for the Reconstruction of the Argentine Economy" of the Executive Branch, published in the Official Gazette on December 21, 2023

This Decree repeals Law 24523 on National Mining Trade System and Law 24695 on National Mining Information Bank. It also substitutes article 1 of Law 9643, establishing a system of "certificates of deposit" and "warrants" for operations on mining goods or products. Among other provisions, it repeals Law 26737 of Rural Lands and simplifies customs procedures.

Provincial Law 8405, published in the Official Gazette of Salta on December 22, 2023

This Law modifies article 34 of Law 7141 (Mining Procedures Code of the Province of Salta) on environmental protection requirements.

Law 5701 of the Legislature of the Province of Río Negro, published in the Official Gazette of Río Negro on December 26, 2023

This Law updates the value of different taxes and fees; among them, all the applications that must be processed before the Mining Secretariat, such as the application for exploration permits, first category statements of discovery, and for the application of claims.

Law 5702 of the Legislature of the Province of Río Negro, published in the Official Gazette of Río Negro on December 26, 2023

This Law approves the new "Mining Procedural Code" of the Province.

Law 5703 of the Legislature of the Province of Río Negro, published in the Official Gazette of Río Negro on December 26, 2023

This Law modifies articles 1 to 4 of the Provincial Law 4738, which creates the Provincial Council of Mining Environmental Assessment (CoPEAM). It also establishes that this Council acts within the scope of the Energy Secretariat of State of the Province of Río Negro and that its function is to assess the environmental impact studies that the mining activity may produce in the Province. The integration of the Council is also established within this law.

Joint Resolution 5466/2023 of the Federal Tax Authority and the Secretariat of Commerce, published in the Official Gazette on December 26, 2023

This Resolution creates the "Import Statistical System" (SEDI), through which importers will anticipate the information related to their import destinations for consumption. It leaves without effect the declarations registered through the "Import System of the Argentine Republic" (SIRA) except for those in "exit" or "cancelled" status as of the date of entry into force of the Resolution.

Resolution 047/2023 of the Secretariat of Mining and Hydrocarbons of the Province of Jujuy, published in the Official Gazette of Jujuy on December 27, 2023

This Resolution establishes the different stages of technical and economic progress of a mining project. These are: prospecting, initial exploration, advanced exploration, previous economic evaluation, pre-feasibility, feasibility, construction and start-up, operation/production, re-engineering, expansion, cessation of operations, closures, post-closure, and inactive deposit.

Law 6372 of the Legislature of the Province of Jujuy, published in the Official Gazette of Jujuy on December 29, 2023

This Law updates the value of the retributive rates of services of the Ministry of Economic Development and Production, which include all taxes and rates corresponding to the Provincial Mining Directorate and the Administrative Court of Mines.