On Monday evening, the government sent Congress the “Adaptation” project to Law 26.639, better known as the “Glacier Law”so that a “broad debate with citizen participation” is expected and no treatment express.
Previously, Javier Milei’s team had received proposals from mining provinces such as Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, San Juan and Mendoza, which integrated the lithium and copper tables.
video
Manuel Adorni announced the important reforms that will be considered in Congress
The official intention is that the Senate convenes the commissions during extraordinary sessions and that anyone who wishes to attend can attend. In this way, The government wants to keep possible legal challenges to the standard to a minimum and unlock mining development.
At Casa Rosada this is emphasized the current law has “opaque legal language that has created legal uncertainty and Investments scared aways.” For this reason, Legal and Technical have been trying since April to formulate an adjustment in clear terms that leaves no room for interpretation.
And they point out that the adjustment of the glacier law has “two central axes”:
The first article of the new minimum budget regulation for the conservation of glaciers and the periglacial environment – this is the full name of the law – contains a new paragraph underlines its constitutionality while aligning with Article 41 of the National Constitution, which provides:rational use of natural resources“.
Likewise, it is reinforced by Article 124 of the Constitution, which guarantees the provinces control over the natural resources within their territory, in this case water.
In doing so, the nation is complying with a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that called for a “federalism of consultation” – that is, dialogue with the provinces – over the law.
They also clarify this in the Balcarce 50 offices Ongoing mining projects do not require new environmental impact statements or changes to their applications to join the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI).but this adjustment will facilitate the projects that are in the portfolio.
And they claim that the main advantage of the new norm is “legal stability”, as the government of Javier Milei wants to “correct dark aspects that have given rise to multiple debates and interpretations”. This is created Comparison with the Employment Contract Act, subject of the labor reformwhich is “full of broad and vague concepts; therefore justice can rule whatever it pleases.”
The Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies (CAEM) expressed its support, stating: “An effective formulation that eliminates the existing uncertainty will allow productive activities and infrastructure development to be carried out within the framework of full respect for environmental protection in general and water resources in particular.”
“The nation’s Supreme Court has already indicated, with respect to the Glacier Law, that its problem must be resolved ‘through federal dialogue and not through the intervention of judges.’ It is time to implement this concerted solution,” he concluded.
In turn, the group of exploration companies of the Argentine Republic (GEMERA) – chaired by Germany’s Michael Meding, general manager of McEwen Copper’s Los Azules copper project – said: “The legislative initiative represents important progress in strengthening legal certainty and regulatory clarity to keep the core purpose of the Act in full force and effect.”
Mining hopes that this law will be passed to legally strengthen some projects such as Vicuña in San Juan and others in Catamarca and Salta.
On the contrary, the environmental organization Greenpeace recalled that “glaciers and the periglacial environment are strategic freshwater reserves.” They provide direct care to 7 million people in the country and indirectly support regional economic activities such as agriculture and tourism.
And he asked the question: “The current law fully protects these ecosystems without subjecting them to subsequent reviews, recognizing that damage may be irreversible.” Its deterioration not only affects today’s water, but also the water resilience required in a country affected by the climate crisis.“.
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