Companies to invest between US$250 and US$400 million in strategic electric infrastructure.

Australian company Challenger Gold (ASX: CEL) announced the completion of a strategic placement for US$6.6 million with an entity controlled by Eduardo Elsztain, who becomes the company's largest shareholder with a 12.7% stake. Additionally, the initial payment of US$2 million was made under the Toll Processing Agreement with Casposo Argentina Mining Limited, securing the processing of 150,000 tons of Hualilán material annually for three years, with a total guaranteed capacity of 450,000 tons.

Australian junior Galan Lithium Limited (ASX:GLN) has received approval from the Ministry of Mining of Catamarca for the Phase 2 exploitation permit for its Hombre Muerto Oeste (HMW) lithium brine project. This permit enables the company to expand its production capacity to 21,000 tons per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), subject to project financing and the implementation of Phase 1, which targets an output of 5,400 tons per year of LCE.

Arcadium Lithium, a leading global producer of lithium chemicals, has obtained approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for its acquisition by Rio Tinto. This clearance removes one of the final regulatory hurdles for the deal initially announced in October 2024.

In an effort to strengthen its relationship with mining suppliers in San Juan, Glencore Pachón organized a key meeting with representatives from various sector chambers, marking the beginning of a more collaborative working model with a sustained dialogue channel.

Lithium Argentina reported that its lithium brine operation in Caucharí-Olaroz, located in Jujuy, achieved a record production of approximately 25,400 tons of lithium carbonate during 2024, meeting its annual targets. For 2025, the company projects an increase in production, estimating between 30,000 and 35,000 tons.

The intergovernmental company YMAD has launched Public Tender No. 002/24 to acquire a rock breaker equipment for the Farallón Negro underground mine, located in the Belén department, Catamarca. The tender is aimed at companies interested in supplying key technology for mining operations.

The Government of San Juan announced today (8th January 2025) the joint approval of the 5th and 6th Updates of the Environmental Impact Report for the exploitation stage of the Casposo Mine, located in the Calingasta department, with the granting of the corresponding Environmental Impact Declaration (EID).

The year 2024 ends with challenges for mining employment in Argentina, marked by a sustained decline in job creation throughout the year. According to the year-end monthly report published by the Secretariat of Mining in December, 39,280 formal direct mining jobs were recorded in August 2024. This data, part of a retrospective analysis of the year, shows a 2.1% decrease compared to August 2023, equating to a loss of 824 jobs over the year and a total of 1,787 fewer jobs in the first eight months of 2024.

Buenos Aires, Argentina – January 6, 2025 – Cerro Vanguardia, with over 26 years of experience in gold and silver mining, has signed an agreement with Minera Don Nicolás to acquire the mining rights for the Michelle project, a 14,328-hectare property located to the northwest of its operation.

Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp., known as Lithium Argentina, continues to move forward with the process of relocating its corporate domicile to Switzerland and operating under the new name, Lithium Argentina AG. This strategic shift, originally announced on November 29, 2024, will be subject to a shareholder vote at a special meeting scheduled for January 17.

Cerrado Gold Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Don Nicolas S.A. ("MDN"), have entered into an option agreement ("Option Agreement") with Cerro Vanguardia S.A. ("CVSA") a wholly-owned subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti Holdings Plc, whereby MDN has granted to CVSA the option to purchase a 100% interest in certain properties (the "Michelle Properties") located in the south region of MDN's Minera Don Nicolas Project in Santa Cruz, for total consideration of the Argentina peso equivalent of US$14 million (approximately C$19 million), subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions. The Option Agreement was ratified December 23, 2024, with effect December 18, 2024.