Within the framework of Argentina Week in New York, the Government of Catamarca signed a cooperation agreement for the exploration of rare earth elements, one of the strategic priorities set for the state-owned company CAMYEN. The U.S.-based firm American Minerals LLC will finance the studies. A similar initiative has already been implemented in Salta.
By Panorama Minero
The Government of Catamarca and American Minerals LLC signed a framework cooperation agreement for the exploration and development of critical minerals, aimed at identifying and evaluating the province’s potential in rare earth elements and other scarce minerals linked to advanced technologies, energy transition and defense applications.
The agreement involves the state-owned company CAMYEN, which has set the development of properties with this type of mineralization as a priority, within the broader context of increasing competition between the United States and China over critical supply chains.
As a next step, both parties agreed on a work agenda to identify priority areas, approve preliminary study programs and assess the feasibility of specific exploration or development agreements for selected areas of mutual interest, in line with CAMYEN’s objectives for 2026.
Governor Raúl Jalil signed the agreement on behalf of the province, together with Sergio Rotondo, CEO of American Minerals. Both highlighted the relevance of the initiative as a basis for technical and scientific collaboration.
“Catamarca has significant potential in strategic minerals, which are increasingly relevant for technological development and global security. We are working to ensure these resources are studied and developed responsibly, generating employment and new opportunities. This agreement allows us to advance exploration and prospecting studies, with geological assessments financed by the company,” Jalil stated following the signing.
Under the agreement, American Minerals will contribute technical expertise for preliminary studies, evaluation of critical minerals, prospecting methodologies and certified sampling and analysis, and may finance these initial studies.
The province will provide geological information, pre-feasibility studies, geological mapping and related inputs, in coordination with institutions such as the Argentine Geological Mining Service (SEGEMAR).
The agreement is framed within the potential application of the Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI) and the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Argentina and the United States in August 2024, aimed at strengthening cooperation in critical minerals.
It also includes clauses related to social responsibility, respect for indigenous communities and the possibility of community agreements, including local employment and supplier development.
Precedent in Salta
In February, the Province of Salta signed a similar public-private agreement with American Minerals LLC to finance preliminary technical studies aimed at identifying and evaluating the potential for critical minerals and rare earths in the province.
As in Catamarca, the agreement involved the provincial government, through the Ministry of Production and Mining, and the state-owned company Recursos Energéticos y Mineros Salta S.A. (REMSA).
The Salta government clarified that the agreement does not grant automatic mining rights or territorial exclusivity, and that any future development would require specific agreements and full compliance with legal procedures before the Mining Court and the Secretariat of Mining, including environmental approvals.
What Are Rare Earth Elements and What Are They Used For?
Rare earth elements, or critical minerals, are materials with magnetic and conductive properties used to enhance electrical performance in various technologies. They are typically found in low concentrations and dispersed deposits, and include elements such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium and dysprosium, among others.
They are essential for the development of electric motors, wind turbines, batteries, electronic devices and metal alloys, and are also used in petroleum refining within the chemical industry.
