Mining News - October 2022

Legislative news
 

Municipal Ordinance No. 1984 of the Municipality of Iglesia Council, published in the Official Gazette of San Juan on October 21, 2022
This ordinance establishes that the mining companies and/or those providing services to mining companies, either in exploration or exploitation stages within the Department of Iglesia, must pay the annual, monthly, or daily tax rates established in Annex IV of the ordinance. Further, those with permanent domicile in the Department of Iglesia will be granted discounts in the payment of the contributions.
Regarding the extraction and/or exploitation of third category minerals, taxpayers will have to pay a tax rate of 3% of the value of the transported and commercialized materials entering and exiting the Department. For this purpose, taxpayers will have to submit a monthly affidavit stating the minerals that have been commercialized or removed from the Department.
For the transportation of first, second, and third category minerals, taxpayers or persons in charge must have the corresponding municipal guide, prior payment of the stamp. Non-compliance will be sanctioned with a fine.

Provincial Decree No. 1.826, published in the Official Gazette of La Rioja on October 25, 2022
This decree established the creation of the Undersecretariat of Mining within the scope of the Secretariat of Mining and reporting to it. Additionally, the decree created the position of Undersecretary within the functional scope of the Ministry of Production and Environment. The Undersecretary will  assist the Secretary of Mining in all the aspects inherent to the area of its competence, understanding in the issues regarding the regime and promotion of the mining activity and the coordinating actions to such ends.

Provincial Resolution No. 118, published in the Official Gazette of Jujuy on October 28, 2022
The resolution established that a single legal and technical domicile must be established and declared, where all administrative acts issued by the Mining Direction of the province will be notified. This resolution involves mining rights holders with an approved Environmental Impact Report currently in force, under evaluation, and all those registered in the Mining Producers’ Registry.

Resolution No. 50/2022, published in the National Official Gazette on October 31, 2022
This resolution extends 180 days the deadline for filing the statement of the funds the provinces received in connection with the projects within the framework of the National Social Mining Plan, the National Mining Footprints Plan, and within the framework of programs or actions of social nature corresponding to different fiscal years.
Further, the resolution authorizes those provinces with funds not spent during the time established for each project to return them or express their intention to reallocate them to a new project compatible with the guidelines of the regulations in force.

Resolution No. 53/2022, published in the National Official Gazette  on October 31,2022
Resolution 53/2022 creates the "Federal Project for the Strengthening of Mining Environmental Variables Monitoring Capacities" within the National Direction of Sustainable Mining Production, which reports to the Undersecretariat of Mining Policy in the Secretary of Mining of the Ministry of Economy.

Provincial Law No. 5778, published in the Official Gazette of Catamarca on October 1, 2022
This law states the Framework Agreement for the Facilitation and Promotion of a Mining Project subscribed between the Catamarca Executive Branch and the Salta Executive Branch to jointly support the development of the mining project called "Sal de Oro", belonging to Posco Argentina S.A.U.
The aim of the agreement is to promote and facilitate investments within a legal security framework, as well as to settle the mining activity within the project area.  On the other hand, it intends to provide a promotion scheme that allows Catamarca and Salta to divide in equal parts the taxes, royalties, and any other encumbrances arising from the minerals extracted within the project area.

Mining in the media

“Lithium: the mineral that can eventually generate an industry that exports USD 19,000 million”, article published by Ámbito on October 24,2022
According to the International Energy Agency, the demand for lithium is expected to increase between 13 and 51 times by 2040, due to a sustained increase, since it is an irreplaceable material in the production of lithium batteries, used in electric vehicles or in renewable energy storage systems.
This would make lithium one of the first export complexes in the country and, depending on the price established, it could reach an export value of USD 19,000 million.

"New lithium discovery in Pastos Grandes and Rincón salt flats", article published by Profesional FM 89.9 on October 10, 2022
The companies Arena Minerals and Argentina Lithium confirmed new lithium findings in the Pastos Grandes and Rincón salt flats located in the province of Salta.

“Sergio Massa allows imports at ARS 300 per USD”, article published by Mining Press on October 31, 2022
To decompress the imports line and avoid the depletion of dollars from the Central Bank reserve, the Minister of Economy allowed companies to use their own dollars to pay for the import of raw materials, at a value of ARS 300 per USD.