Mining News - May 2025

Legislative News
 

Decree 326 of the Executive Power in Chubut, published in the Official Gazette of Chubut on May 5, 2025

This Decree creates the Mining Concessions Directorate under the General Directorate of Mines and Geology, which is part of the Subsecretary of Hydrocarbons within the Ministry of Hydrocarbons. It updates the duties and requirements for the position of General Directorate of Mining Concessions and approves the new organizational and functional structure of the General Directorate of Mines and Geology. The amendments are annotated in the margins of Decree 902/24.

Decree 244/25 of the Government of Salta, published in the Official Gazette of Salta on May 6, 2025

This Decree creates a Temporary Promotional Regime for the service fees established in article 29 paragraph 3 of the Salta Tax Law and its amendments, consisting of a temporary reduction in such fees.

It establishes the following values:

a) Prospecting permit concession applications: 51500 tax units.
b) Discovery declaration of mines: 51500 tax units.
c) Prospecting permit concession: 51500 tax units.
d) Registration of mine discovery declarations stemming from granted prospecting permits: 51500 tax units.
e) Easement application: 51500 tax units.
f) Quarry discovery declaration: 12500 tax units.
g) Quarry concession per hectare: 3000 tax units.
h) Registrations and re-registrations in the Mining Registries: 90 tax units.
i) Certificates issued by the Secretariat of Mining and Energy: 90 tax units.
j) For each request regarding certificates, title reports, or other records: 90 tax units.
k) For vacant mine applications per ownership unit: 116000 tax units.

These values are effective from the date of publication until December 31, 2026.

Law 3592 of the Legislature of the Province of Neuquen, published in the Official Gazette of Neuquen on May 19, 2025

The purpose of this law is to promote investment and the development of various economic activities in the Province of Neuquen by granting different incentives and benefits, both tax-related and otherwise. To this end, the Provincial Investment Committee of Neuquén (CPIN) is created and tasked with developing promotional plans. This law applies to natural or legal persons and/or any type of associative contracts they form, engaged in various sectors, including mining activities, defined as strategic by the Executive Branch.

Benefits include:

a) Access to privately owned state land.
b) Exemption from provincial taxes.
c) Access to financing under preferential conditions.
d) Access to the benefits of the Neuquen Guarantee Fund.
e) Support in obtaining quality certifications as defined by the enforcement authority.
f) Subsidies for the provision of services such as electricity, gas, water, and communications, pursuant to agreements made between adhering municipalities, the Province, and service providers.
g) Advisory and financial support for the export of Neuquen products, including promotion of a quality and innovation label.

The law also guarantees fiscal stability for 10 years for investments made under its framework.

Law 3926 of the Legislature of Santa Cruz, published in the Official Gazette of Santa Cruz on May 27, 2025

This Law establishes April 9 of each year as Provincial Day for Awareness of Mining Occupational Safety. Accordingly, the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security, together with mining companies operating in the Province, will carry out awareness campaigns during the second week of April each year at all mining sites, focusing on risk visibility and safety systems.

Resolution 1 of the Provincial Directorate of the Official Gazette, Judiciary, and Printing Office of the Province of Catamarca, published in the Official Gazette of Catamarca on May 30, 2025

This Resolution sets the fees for services provided by the Provincial Directorate of the Official Gazette, Judiciary, and Printing Office of Catamarca, which now are:
For publishing  quarry, prospecting, survey, and mining edicts, the price per word per day is ARS 23. For urgent procedures, the price is ARS 35 per word per day.

Mining in the Media
 

“Vicuña Corp. reveals one of the world’s largest copper, gold, and silver deposits,”  published by Ambito Financiero on May 5, 2025

Vicuña Corp., the strategic alliance between Lundin Mining and BHP, announced that the combined resources of the San Juan-based Filo del Sol and Josemaria projects place the Vicuña district among the world’s ten largest known copper deposits, in terms of measured, indicated, and inferred reserves.

“Blue Sky Uranium expands drilling plan to advance Ivana uranium-vanadium project,” published by Panorama Minero on May 14, 2025

Blue Sky Uranium announced the expansion of its drilling program at the Ivana uranium-vanadium project, part of the Amarillo Grande project in Rio Negro, Argentina, doubling its budget to USD 6 million. The campaign will include up to 6,000 meters of drilling in two phases: one aimed at upgrading existing resources, and the other at exploring new nearby targets. This initiative aims to move the project toward feasibility and position Ivana as a key source of uranium for Argentina’s nuclear energy sector. Drilling is expected to begin this quarter.

“Lilac: Successful operations at its lithium demonstration plant in Jujuy,” published by Panorama Minero on May 14, 2025

Lilac Solutions announced the success of its lithium direct extraction demonstration plant (DLE) in Jujuy, Argentina, using its fourth-generation ion exchange (IX) technology. The plant achieved a lithium recovery rate of 91% and a 99.4% impurity rejection rate while operating continuously under challenging conditions at 4000 meters above sea level.

“Lake Resources increases resources at Kachi,” published by Panorama Minero on May 14, 2025

Lake Resources announced a significant update to the resource estimate of its Kachi lithium project in Catamarca, Argentina. Measured and indicated resources increased to 8.2 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), with measured resources up 25%, reaching 4.2 million tons. Total estimated resources now amount to 11.1 million tons of LCE across 275 km². This increase is based on new drilling data, particularly from borehole K25D44, which recorded average lithium concentrations of 274 mg/L within the planned production interval.

“Mendoza and Australia sign strategic alliance to boost mining training and innovation,” published by Info Mendoza on May 16, 2025

The Government of Mendoza signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Curtin University of Australia, one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the mining field. The agreement sets a framework for academic, scientific, and cultural cooperation aimed at developing joint programs in the mining sector.

“San Juan launches bidding process to explore two key mining areas in Iglesia,” published by Futuro Sustentable on May 19, 2025

The Provincial Institute of Mining Exploration and Exploitation (IPEEM) of San Juan has opened a new public tender for the exploration, with an option for exploitation, of two key mining areas located in the Iglesia Department: Del Carmen and Jagüelito. Both areas have previously been explored by well-known companies and are now back in focus for mining investment.

“Government announces RIGI approval for Río Tinto’s lithium project,” published by Ambito Financiero on May 20, 2025

The Government announced that the Committee for the Investment Incentive Regime for Large-Scale Investments (RIGI) approved Argentina’s first large-scale lithium mining project. The project, Rincon de Litio in Salta, will involve an investment of USD 2.7 billion by Rio Tinto.

“For our province, mining is a State policy,” published by El Cronista on May 22, 2025

The Governor of San Juan, Marcelo Orrego, reaffirmed his commitment to mining as a State policy, highlighting its central role in the provincial economy and its potential in the global energy transition. During his participation in ArMinera, Orrego noted that San Juan accounts for 54% of mining investment in Argentina and leads in copper projects, positioning itself as a key international player. He also emphasized the importance of SMEs as drivers of private employment and announced financing programs to strengthen them. Orrego further stressed the need for sustainable mining, with tax policies that incentivize production and foster local supplier development, consolidating San Juan as a benchmark in the Argentine mining industry.

“Luis Lucero calls on IADEM to reform the National Mining Code,” published by Zonda on May 22, 2025

The National Secretary of Mining, Luis Lucero, has called on the Argentine Institute of Mining Law (IADEM) to collaborate in reviewing and amending the Mining Code, a legal framework he considers outdated. In a recent meeting, Lucero underscored the need to work on the technical aspects that would enable the effective modernization of the legislation.

“Record-breaking edition: ArMinera 2025 exceeds all expectations,” published by Mineria y Desarrollo on May 23, 2025

ArMinera 2025 broke all records, not only in terms of attendance but also in the space occupied by its more than 400 exhibitors—over 500 companies including co-exhibitors—covering a gross area of 22000 m² and 3000 m² of open-air exhibits. With packed aisles and auditoriums, more than 100 talks and conferences were held, featuring key figures in the development of the mining industry in Argentina and the region.
 

“Agreement with Segemar for mining development,” published by El Tribuno on May 23, 2025

Governor Carlos Sadir and the head of the Argentine Geological Mining Service (Segemar), Julio Matteo Bruna Novillo, signed a mutual cooperation agreement to implement development, research, and mineral training projects during the Argentina International Mining Exhibition 2025 – ArMinera, held at La Rural in Buenos Aires.

“Mining already has medium-term projects to export USD 15 billion per year,” published by Clarin on May 23, 2025

At a recent session of Clarin’s Vision 360° series, leading mining sector representatives outlined ongoing investments in copper and lithium—key minerals for the energy transition. Argentina's mining sector has strong export potential and could become one of the country’s top three sectors by 2031, with projected annual exports of USD 15 billion, more than triple the USD 4.6 billion recorded in 2024. In that year, the sector provided jobs for approximately 100,000 people, and the number of small and medium-sized suppliers grew from 30% to 35% in just six months.

“Argentina and mining: a historic opportunity we must not miss,” published by Infobae on May 26, 2025

The Northern Miner, Canada’s most influential mining publication—and arguably the most prominent worldwide—featured a headline that was as unexpected as it was encouraging: “Argentina, an attractive country for mining investment.” Such a statement, coming from the global leader in the mining industry, carries significant strategic weight, especially in today’s context of growing geopolitical uncertainty.

“Banco Supervielle aims to swiftly finance the mining supply chain, disburses over USD 10 million to suppliers,” published by Panorama Minero on May 28, 2025

Banco Supervielle has strengthened its commitment to the Argentine mining sector by creating a specialized unit, “+Mineria,” designed to provide agile financial solutions tailored to the needs of the mining value chain. To date, the bank has disbursed over USD 10 million in financing to more than 80 sector suppliers through tools such as confirmed invoice loans, machinery leasing, ratings based on contracts and purchase orders, and access to funds via the capital market.