News of mining investment

Argentina’s critical-minerals boom comes with a choice

Today 04:36 Milei’s RIGI regime has attracted major investment. The challenge is turning a resource boom into something that lasts.

ANALYSING ARGENTINA

Choose your own Argentina

30-05-2026 05:27 Depending on which data you look at, you get a different Argentina. The main political question for the next year is whether the two Argentinas will begin to converge or drift further apart.

by Marcelo J. García

INVESTMENT

Milei approves RIGI incentives for lithium mine expansion with China ties

14-05-2026 17:22 Milei’s government clears joint venture led by China’s Ganfeng Lithium Group to invest US$1.24 billion in an expansion of its mine in the province of Jujuy along with partners Lithium Argentina AG, which has US-listed shares, and state-owned JEMSE.

‘ARGENTINA WEEK’ IN NYC

Officials at NYC roadshow tell investors Argentina is ‘fertile ground’

12-03-2026 20:19 Milei slams two business leaders at three-day promotional roadshow in New York; President defends actions of the US and Israeli administrations in Middle East and calls for investors to step up.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

A future which works

07-03-2026 06:53 Milei’s determination to open up one of the world’s most closed economies is moving at vastly superior speed to the painstaking parliamentary passage of the structural reforms local companies need to compete.

by Michael Soltys

MINING & GLACIERS

US$40-billion copper boom hinges on revamped glacier law

27-02-2026 20:25 Argentina’s Senate voted on Thursday on Javier Milei's bill that would allow governors – many pro-mining – to overrule federal protections on glaciers and their surrounds, known as periglacial areas.

MINING INVESTMENT

Vicuña unveils US$18bn mining investment via RIGI scheme

17-02-2026 19:16 Vicuña to invest US$18 billion in gold, silver and copper mining; Joint venture between BHP and Lundin targets world top-five copper, gold and silver output; San Juan project could rank among world’s largest operations, with first production slated for 2030.

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Milei sends Glacier Protection Law reform bill to Congress

16-12-2025 21:30 Argentina's government targets approval by end of year, despite environmental pushback; New rules would loosen projections for glaciers and pass responsibility for mining projects to provincial administrations.

RIGI INVESTMENT INCENTIVE SCHEME

One year in, RIGI investor incentive scheme fails to take off

27-08-2025 09:18 One of President Javier Milei’s flagship policies, the RIGI incentive scheme for large investors, is not taking off – one year on from its launch, three projects have imported a mere US$26 million. Seven initiatives have been approved with 11 others pending and a Chinese rejection.

by Gonzalo Martínez

RIGI INVESTMENT BOOST

Glencore seeks incentives for US$13-billion copper mining projects

18-08-2025 16:46 Switzerland-based commodities firm Glencore files applications to have two copper projects with combined capital expenditure estimated at more than US$13 billion included in RIGI investment incentive scheme.

lithium mining

Rio Tinto to invest US$2.5 billion in lithium production

13-12-2024 13:24 Anglo-Australian mining giant announces US$2.5-billion investment in Rincón project in Salta Province, with chief executive praising Milei’s reforms and RIGI scheme.

Investing in Argentina

Milei touts US$50 billion from investors eyeing 30-year loopholes

02-12-2024 13:04 Argentina has abundant natural resources and legions of well-educated workers. But it struggles to attract investors because its politicians have a habit of changing the rules on a whim.

Lithium in Argentina

Economic crisis thwarts bid to go nuclear with lithium bounty

17-09-2024 11:35 Currency woes dog Argentine scientists trying to develop key isotope Lithium-6, which could have nuclear applications; Milei’s spending cuts, privatisation plans are also a factor.