Panorama Minero: Latest News

Argentina holds nearly 21% of the world’s lithium resources and around 12% of global reserves. With seven projects in operation, 16 advanced-stage developments and more than 40 projects in exploration, production could increase nearly fivefold by 2035. Output is projected to reach 573,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent over the next decade.

Lithium accounted for 15% of Argentina’s mining exports in 2025, at US$911 million, and is projected to exceed US$2.5 billion in 2026. INDEC’s Mining Industrial Production Index confirms the strong increase in lithium production and related products, with lithium carbonate output up 44.3% between January and July.

Lithium carbonate equivalent prices could average US$21,363 per tonne next year, in a market shaped by moderate supply growth and evolving demand from electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems.

Inclusion in the regime provides predictability for the project, which expects a peak of 3,500 workers during construction, while the reactivation of Alumbrera moves forward.

Cobre San Romeleo plans to process 40 tonnes of oxidized ore per day to supply the production of fungicides used in viticulture.

Cerro Quebrado S.A. was the sole bidder in Public Tender No. 2/2026 and will negotiate an exploration contract with a purchase option with Impulsa Mendoza for the copper project.

The amount represents a year-on-year increase of 67.5% and is equivalent to 88% of the mining exports recorded during all of 2025. Lithium increased its share of the sector’s exports and reached US$1.126 billion during the first half of the year.

The commissioning of Plant 2 completes a new stage of POSCO’s integrated complex in northern Argentina and opens the way for a larger-scale expansion.

The Governor of Salta is participating in Argentina Week, where he highlighted the province’s conditions for attracting investment and identified mining, energy and agribusiness as strategic sectors.

Maximiliano Davico, Country Manager of Sandvik Argentina, highlighted the role of training and anticipated strong growth for the company in Argentina.

The result corresponds to the Santiago body and was obtained during the 2026 campaign. Minas Argentinas will continue drilling to evaluate the continuity of the mineralization.

Torsten Ericsson, Sweden’s Ambassador to Argentina, discussed opportunities for Swedish companies and the contribution of technology, training and mining expertise.

The corridor seeks to connect Argentina’s mining-rich northwest and Vaca Muerta with Atlantic ports, with support from the U.S. EXIM Bank and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.

Hydraulic testing at the lithium project in Salta achieved pumping rates of up to 25 liters per second, while the recommended operating rate was established at 20 L/s, above the 15 L/s assumed in the Preliminary Economic Assessment. The company is conducting additional testing to refine its hydrogeological model as it advances toward a prefeasibility study.

The province of San Juan hosted the fourth edition of the Swedish Mining Initiative, the first to be held outside Buenos Aires. The event included presentations on the range of solutions developed by the Scandinavian country for the mining sector, with potential applications in Argentina.

Lake Resources received the Environmental Impact Declaration for the lithium project in Catamarca. The company will begin FEED engineering and move forward with its RIGI application.

In recent days, Dr. Hernán Celorrio — simply Hernán to those of us who knew him — passed away. With his passing, Argentine mining loses a professional closely associated with the development of the sector.

Liontown is an Australian lithium producer that operates Kathleen Valley, a major hard-rock project that could reach production equivalent to 88,000 tonnes of LCE per year. Its entry into Argentina marks the company's expansion into brine-based lithium development.

The lithium industry approaches October in a very different position than just a few years ago. The country closed 2025 with mineral exports of US$905 million, its highest figure on record, and raised the number of producing operations to seven. At the same time, new expansions and projects are moving forward in an industry that no longer discusses only resources and potential: it is beginning to measure performance, competitiveness, execution capacity and the conditions needed to sustain a new scale of growth.

Businessman Raúl Cabanay detailed the scope of the agreement signed in Buenos Aires, conveyed a message of reassurance regarding job stability for workers and the community, and highlighted the alignment of safety and environmental values between the outgoing shareholder and the new majority partners.

The company added 24 new workers as part of the early works. Of the total workforce, 47% come from communities near the project.

The course began at Higher Technological Institute No. 9-019 after receiving more than 1,000 applications. The program combines technical content and practical training at drill sites to address one of the main demands of the mining industry.

Minister Jimena Latorre linked the growth of mining projects to the need for continuous and secure electricity generation and transmission. PSJ emerges as the first concrete case.

Three years after the change of control, the operation is advancing with a US$665 million project approved under the RIGI and a plan to expand exploration across the district.