Officials and stakeholders from the public and private sectors of Catamarca province, led by their Minister of Mining, Marcelo Murúa, maintained a rigorous agenda at the PDAC 2024 mining fair in Toronto.
The governor of Mendoza addressed the economic and mining situation of Argentina and his province, which has had a restrictive law for mining development since 2007, a scope that could be modified in the next period. Analyzing this scenario, the provincial leader stated that he will speed up the production of copper in the territory since, with the current law and the procedures used in modern copper production, no article of Law 7.722 related to the use of prohibited substances is violated. He did so in the context of the PDAC 2024, at an event for investors promoted by the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies (CAEM). The province will seek to capitalize on its potential around the red metal and will form a local industrial hub while working together with its counterparts from San Juan, Catamarca, and Salta. From May 21 to 23, the governors of these provinces will formally establish the "Copper Task Force" at the San Juan Mining Expo 2024, an event organized by Panorama Minero since 2006.
The Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies expressed its support for the "May Pact" in a statement issued on Monday, March 4th. The Mining Chamber, also known as CAEM, endorsed the initiative proposed by the national government to establish guiding principles, together with provincial authorities, to guide the social, productive, and economic development of the country.
Representatives from both offices visited the mining projects, carrying out aquifer control.
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The provincial governor is participating in the main global mining fair with the aim of seeking projects and investments in the mining hub. Canada is once again hosting the PDAC, the sector's most emblematic exhibition.
Blue Sky Uranium Corp. has unveiled the results of a new Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Ivana uranium-vanadium deposit, part of the Amarillo Grande Project located in the province of Río Negro. The updated assessment includes a new mineral resource estimate, with approximately 80% of the resources now in the Indicated category. “This assessment demonstrates a solid economy for a surface mining operation, with 11 years of production for both minerals.”
The French company Eramet, associated with the Chinese company Tsingshan, announced that the company has "solid growth fundamentals" in the lithium sector despite the drop in prices recorded in the last period. The start of production at full commercial capacity remains firm for mid-2025, reaching 24 kt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) produced in Salta.
The recently merged company, Arcadium Lithium, announced it expects to boost combined volumes of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide delivered to customers by approximately 40% in 2024, reaching between 50,000 and 54,000 metric tons. This is due to expansions in lithium carbonate production in Olaroz and Fénix, in Argentina, as well as in hydroxide assets in other global locations.
At a meeting held at the Government House of Salta, representatives from Tecpetrol, a company belonging to the Techint group, have officially presented their strategic investment plan to Governor Gustavo Sáenz for the development and implementation of the Tolillar lithium project.
Australian junior Lake Resources, developer of the Kachi lithium project in Catamarca, reported that drilling completed in its operation continues to intercept lithium-rich brine in sand units, favorable for extraction over thick intervals in the southern portion of the central resource area.
Lithium Argentina announced preliminary operational results for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine operation, located in Jujuy and recently brought into production.
Fortuna Silver Mines has provided its latest Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates as of December 31, 2023 for its five operating mines in West Africa and the Americas, as well as the Arizaro project, part of the Lindero mine located in Salta and operated through its subsidiary Mansfield Minera SA, in Argentina.
Canadian company McEwen Mining, developing the Los Azules project through its subsidiary McEwen Copper, in the province of San Juan, reported that twenty drilling rigs are on-site, with over 36,000 meters of drilling completed to date as part of the season. The goal is to advance in all areas contributing to the upcoming Feasibility Study (FS), expected to be published in the first quarter of 2025.
During the announcement of its year-end results, the Canadian company, operator of the iconic Veladero gold deposit located in the Iglesia department of San Juan province, stated that "the operation comfortably exceeded its production expectations and managed to reduce costs, marking a significant shift in its trajectory."
AbraSilver Resource Corp., in partnership with Teck Resources Limited, has announced the commencement of drilling activities at the La Coipita copper-gold porphyry, located in San Juan. This project is situated in a region renowned for hosting world-class deposits such as Josemaría, Altar, Filo del Sol, and Los Azules.
The governors of San Juan, Salta, and Catamarca decided to form the Copper Task Force, composed of three of the provinces with the most advanced copper projects in the country. This decision was made within the framework of the intense agenda that officials maintained in Europe alongside the National Mining Secretariat.
The provincial government of Salta presented the comprehensive electrification project of the Puna to representatives from companies in the sector at a meeting held at the local Mining House. The initiative aims to ensure electrical supply to mining projects and communities in the region, with a focus on efficiency and electrical safety.
The Ministry of Mining of the Nation and the governors of Salta, Jujuy, San Juan, and Catamarca presented the Argentine mining asset as a de-risking factor at the First Argentine-German Meeting on Critical Minerals in Berlin. Sovereign guarantees, financial instruments, and specific funds for the development of new investments in Argentine mining were the focus of the business day.
The Chinese delegation was informed about regulations aimed at installing the hydrochloric acid plant as a lithium input.
Renowned San Juan geologist Mario Hernandez has been appointed as the new Sustainability Manager for the Los Azules copper project, operated by McEwen Copper in the province of San Juan.