MENDOZA.- The Governor of Mendoza, Alfredo Cornejo, wants to pass a mining law this Tuesday that will divide positions in the province. “Mining will be the engine of progress,” said Cornejo, a radical and ally of Javier Milei. The President assures that there is now more political consensus and social freedom to advance the initiative.
“You don’t touch the water,” dissident voices are again being heard, especially environmentalists, with constant demonstrations that have increased in recent weeks. This is what we are witnessing, the final legislative debate on the development of the controversial metal-bearing activity in the Cuyo area, to be carried out with important controls, in a sustainable manner and in accordance with the latest technologies. The challenge of the Mendoza government is to deepen the production matrix and to advocate for the “coexistence” of the different production industries, as is the case in Chile.
In this way, the mining activity in the middle of the mountain is strongly highlighted with a key project in the exploitation phase, which has been stopped for 14 years: this is the Environmental Impact Statement (DIA) of “PSJ Cobre Mendocino”, known as the San Jorge project, based in Uspallata, in the municipality of Las Heras, which promises a lot an initial investment of nearly $600 million and nearly 4,000 jobsonly under construction, with the possibility of starting operations in 2028.
Next Tuesday, December 9th, will be the litmus test and everything indicates that the initiative will receive the final approval of the Senate, despite the rejection of Justicialism. According to the requests from THE NATIONthe numbers are favorable for the ruling party, as was the case last month with the deputies, who obtained a majority with the support of other forces, with the exception of Peronism and some lawmakers linked to water and ecology. The government will provide reinforcements with a special security operation near Parliament tomorrow.
But nothing is said until the last moment. It was already experienced in 2019, when Governor Rodolfo Suárez, the current national senator, took office, who, due to social pressure and massive protests, had to reverse the changes to 7722, the so-called anti-mining law, which bans the use of toxic substances such as cyanide, mercury and sulfuric acid.
For this reason, Citizens’ fear of environmental pollution has now returned to the center of the scene, beyond official declarations, compliance with current regulations and the support of various organizations, such as the Ministry of the Environment, the General Department of Irrigation, the National University of Cuyo and Conicet, which in recent days have been involved in a controversy for the publication of a statement, later deleted, where The safety and care of water has been questioned, particularly due to the water crisis that the province has been experiencing for more than a decade. In addition, there are critics who claim that the intake of water from the El Tigre stream near the mine could pollute the Mendoza River basin.
This was strictly rejected by the Mendoza authorities, who wanted to make it clear by all means that “it is false that there is a risk of contamination of the Mendoza basin” and that “140 liters per second are not consumed since 80% of this volume is recirculated in a closed circuit”.
Also based on statements from the President Javier Mileia possible change in the Glacier lawto give more impetus to activity in areas currently banned across the country, which is also putting critics on alert.
Official declarations are commonplace as interested parties seek to further develop the activity in the province. In fact, over the past year there has been an increase in official missions, mostly led by the governor, to key investment-attracting destinations such as Canada, Arab countries, Brazil, Spain, Brussels and England. For example, at that time, while awaiting the final consideration in the local parliament, the Minister of Energy and Environment, Jimena Latorre, accompanied by the Director of Mines, Jerónimo Shantal, and the Finance Manager of Impulsa Mendoza, Sebastián Piña, presented a lecture on mining, energy transition and the potential of Mendoza at the Argentine Residence in London, as part of the mining fair “Resourcing Tomorrow”.
Latorre insists that “society has changed, it is no longer allowed to reject any productive activity that creates development,” while ensuring that everything will be regulated within the framework of the anti-mining law and that there will be various levels of control, including mining environmental police, permanent satellite technology, citizen monitoring and compensation funds, with sanctions ranging from fines to closures. Likewise, he called on citizens to be “the most avid and keen observers of Mendoza’s environment.”
“It is wrong that mining is competing for the water of the people of Mendoza,” were officials’ final words before the crucial debate to be held next week that will ensure the copper project operates with water recirculation and “maximum” environmental controls. Therefore, she once again questioned the groups that construct “disaster scenarios” and use the environment “to disguise other interests.”
On this path, for many extremists, there are various social and environmental associations that are preparing for Tuesday a strong demonstration with leaflets, banners and flags. “This type of mega-mining uses highly toxic substances such as xanthate and releases heavy metals that can seriously pollute the water of the Mendoza River, which supplies water to 75% of Mendoza’s population,” they explained THE NATION from the Water Assembly, which invites citizens to join the demand and learn in detail the impact of mining in other regions and the cities that have managed to stop its development.
Meanwhile, the government of Mendoza is committed to celebrating the progress of the mining industry around the world and new technologies, ensuring that they enable modern, sustainable and transparent activities.
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