A preliminary ruling from the Justice of Catamarca has raised expectations in the lithium industry, given the latent possibility that the Court of that province will lift the injunction preventing the establishment of new projects in the Salar del Hombre Muerto, in the department of Antofagasta de la Sierra.
By Panorama Minero
The news emerged in recent hours, with the disclosure of the ruling by the Prosecutor of the Court of Justice, which, although not a binding opinion, is taken into account by the members of the province's Highest Court when making a decision.
The Prosecutor recommended “gradually lifting” the injunction and coordinating with the Provincial Government on a “Hydrological Program” involving the community, so that mining activity can develop in the area.
Currently, there is a judicial measure affecting the Salar del Hombre Muerto, specifically the Los Patos River, which prevents the Government of Catamarca from granting new mining permits in the area. This injunction has been in effect since March 13, 2024, when the Court of Justice accepted an environmental protection action and requested that the Province present a Study and Management of the Cumulative Impact (EGIA) for the site. This requirement was fulfilled in July 2025.
The EGIA presented by the Government was prepared by the consulting firm LIPAT, with funding from the Federal Council of Investments. It included a catalog of recommendations with technical aspects and proposals for future actions, among which the creation of a “Hydrological Program” was suggested. In his ruling, the Catamarca Prosecutor suggested establishing a reasonable time frame for the Province to prepare the “Hydrological Program” and its corresponding “Compliance Plan” in order to lift the injunction and allow activity to continue.
This “Hydrological Program” must consider the recommendations made by the consulting firm, including the preparation of a “conceptual and numerical hydrogeological model,” the execution of a “reliable aquifer recharge estimation,” an “isotopic dating of groundwater,” a monitoring and early warning system, a phased pumping plan, a comprehensive cumulative evaluation, and “audits and permanent control with the participation of technical bodies and community representatives.”
About the Report
In July 2025, the Government announced the presentation of the EGIA and mentioned that the result of the study “is materialized in a Plan for the Management of Cumulative Impacts (PGIA), which is a strategic tool that will strengthen interjurisdictional and interinstitutional coordination and the informed participation of all social sectors, integrating scientific knowledge and local knowledge for decision-making that benefits everyone.”
The plan is structured into seven key monitoring and control programs with a preventive, adaptive, and participatory approach: “Meteorological, Hydrological, Biodiversity, Cultural Heritage, Sociocultural and Socioeconomic Aspects, Communication and Community Participation, and PGIA Follow-up.”
Regarding the results of the cumulative impact assessment presented in the final report, the Government highlighted that “the evaluation was based on information from pre-existing studies and shows general stability of environmental, sociocultural, and productive systems in a context of climate change, advancement of lithium extraction projects, and associated infrastructure works.”
“The validated hydrogeological models anticipate that the aquifer will maintain its recovery capacity even under exploitation scenarios. These results reinforce the importance of maintaining and strengthening monitoring programs, which are key for precautionary and adaptive water management,” they noted, specifying that the total recharge of the Salar “has been estimated at 7,372.8 cubic meters per hour, of which: 1,764 m³/h comes from the Sub-basin of the Río Aguas Calientes, 3,704.4 m³/h from the Sub-basin of Los Patos River, and 1,904.4 m³/h from smaller sub-basins.”
In terms of biodiversity, it was valued that “records show stable and naturally dynamic communities in accordance with the high Andean environment.” “La Vega Trapiche stands out for its ecological recovery process linked to specific restoration actions. Regarding Cultural Heritage, its overall good condition is confirmed. The need for comprehensive management strategies that combine physical conservation with community participation is highlighted,” they explained.
Finally, from a socioeconomic perspective, it was emphasized that “mining has promoted a positive development dynamic since 2014, with the implementation of regulations establishing priority for the hiring of local labor, both direct and indirect.” “This is reflected in the expansion of commercial opportunities, the diversification of goods and services offered—including tourism—and employment generation in various sectors,” they reported.
Business Request
The General Manager of Rio Tinto Lithium Argentina, Ignacio Costa, had requested urgency in the decision of the Catamarca Court of Justice to lift the injunction, in a one-on-one conversation with economist Santiago Bulat during the 14th edition of Lithium in South America, organized by PANORAMA MINERO.
“It is very important for us that the injunction be lifted; a serious impact study was conducted. We need it to be lifted in order to continue growing in Catamarca. We are optimistic that this will happen, and we hope it is resolved in the short term,” he said.
