en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Chamber of Deputies of Mendoza Province, Argentina, has approved the Environmental Impact Statement for a lithium exploration project in the Salinas del Diamante area, clearing a legislative hurdle for exploration work across approximately 234,256.5 hectares between the departments of San Rafael and Malargüe.
The Chamber approved the project with 36 votes in favor and 4 against, confirming the authorization previously granted by the Provincial Senate. The initiative, promoted by the local Mendoza company El Jarillal in partnership with the Australian firm Ampere Lithium, aims to obtain technical information on the presence, quality, and feasibility of extracting lithium salts and other strategic minerals in the Salinas del Diamante area.
The Environmental Impact Statement was jointly issued by the Directorate of Environmental Management and Oversight (Dirección de Gestión y Fiscalización Ambiental) and the Directorate of Mining (Dirección de Minería). The evaluation process involved the Faculty of Applied Sciences to Industry of the National University of Cuyo (Facultad de Ciencias Aplicadas a la Industria de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, UNCUYO), the General Department of Irrigation (Departamento General de Irrigación), the Provincial Road Authority (Vialidad Provincial), relevant municipalities, biodiversity and cultural heritage areas, and the National Institute of Indigenous Affairs (Instituto Nacional de Asuntos Indígenas, INAI). The document also incorporated the results of technical field visits to the area and two public hearings held in San Rafael and Malargüe.
The resolution stipulates that throughout the exploration phase, the project proponent must meet a series of requirements, including updating the environmental baseline, developing monitoring plans for water, air, soil, flora, and fauna, an emergency plan, a waste management plan, water resource protection measures, purchasing environmental insurance, undergoing regular inspections and oversight, and preparing an indigenous social baseline to assess potential cultural and social impacts.
The exploration work will help more precisely determine the subsurface characteristics and brine potential of the area. This information is crucial for assessing whether conditions exist for subsequent, more detailed studies and eventual development and production. The approval of the Environmental Impact Statement marks a key step in the project's development and reflects the growing interest in Mendoza Province in incorporating lithium into its mining agenda.
