Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a controversial bill that facilitates mining activities in ecologically sensitive glacial and periglacial zones. The legislation, strongly advocated by President Javier Milei, advanced through the lower house early on Thursday after a nearly 12-hour debate.
The amendment to the country’s existing Glacier Law passed with 137 votes in favour, 111 against, and three abstentions. Having previously secured approval from the Senate in February, this reform is set to ease restrictions on extracting metals such as copper, lithium, and silver from frozen areas of the Andes mountains.
Environmental groups and activists have voiced strong opposition, warning that the changes will diminish protections for vital water resources. An environmental activist stated that scientific consensus indicates no possibility of “sustainable mining” in periglacial environments, directly challenging the government’s position.
The legislative process was met with significant public protest. Thousands gathered outside parliament on Wednesday afternoon, with sporadic clashes reported. Demonstrators displayed banners featuring slogans like “Water is more precious than gold!” and “A glacier destroyed cannot be restored!” Earlier in the day, seven activists were arrested after unfurling a banner from a statue.
Supporters of the bill, including a legislator from the ruling La Libertad Avanza party, argue that it is possible to achieve “environmental protection and sustainable development” simultaneously. President Milei has asserted the bill is crucial for attracting large-scale mining projects, which he believes are essential for economic growth, claiming environmentalists prioritize starvation over resource utilization.
The reform shifts decision-making power to individual provinces regarding the protection and exploitation of glacial and periglacial areas. Argentina, home to nearly 17,000 glaciers, is a significant lithium producer. The nation’s central bank anticipates a potential tripling of mining exports by 2030 under industry forecasts.
Source: Original
