The governor of Mendoza, Alfredo Cornejo, spoke this Wednesday that a large majority had agreed to the return of metal mining to the province, which had been stopped for 14 years amid strong protests from environmentalists.
“We give Guarantee of institutionalityBut governments adopt There will be a lot of control and from now on we are very careful that the activity goes well, just as we are very careful that viticulture is successful, which also involves the use of chemicals that are harmful to health,” he explained in dialogue with Radio Rivadavia.
The Senate of Mendoza has ratified the Environmental Impact Statement (DIA) for the use of the San Jorge Cobre Mendocino (PSJ) project in the mountain town of Uspallata, in Las Heras, in Greater Mendoza.
In addition, the Western Mining District II (MDMO II) – comprising 27 mining proposals – was approved, the establishment of the Environmental Compensation Fund and the regulation of the Mining Royalties Regime.
The provincial governor called it “historic” that metal mining could resume and estimated that Argentina’s first copper production would be possible by 2027.
“These are major investments and the legal certainty provided by the approval of the legislature by a large majority is not an afterthought,” he noted.
The meeting, which discussed mining projects, came amid an anti-mining demonstration that took place in front of Parliament from the Uco Valley, San Rafael and Uspallata.
“There is no lack of resistance. There are people who are against it, who have doubts, doubts about the controls, people who are directly against the mining that continues to exist. We cannot ignore that criticism continues in MendozaCornejo admitted.
In this context, he attributed the issues to resistance from the agricultural sector, but thanks to the implementation of the Pilares Plan, a consensus has been reached between the government, the private sector and, with the participation of the public sector, through universities.
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