Argentine lawmakers pass bill permitting glacier mining operations nationwide

Thousands of people gathered outside Argentina’s parliament on Wednesday to protest a bill that has been approved by the country’s lawmakers. The amendment, part of the Glacier Law, allows mining in ecologically sensitive areas of glaciers and permafrost. The Chamber of Deputies voted 137-111 with three abstentions after nearly 12 hours of debate.

The bill was pushed by President Javier Milei, who has argued that it is necessary to attract large-scale mining projects. Argentina is a major producer of lithium, which is critical to the global tech and green energy sectors. The central bank estimates that the country could triple its mining exports by 2030.

Environmentalists have expressed concerns that the reforms will weaken protections for crucial water sources. Seven Greenpeace activists were arrested earlier in the day after scaling a statue outside parliament and unfurling a banner urging politicians to reconsider their decision.

The passage of the amendment is another victory for Milei, who has also pushed through looser labour laws despite repeated street protests. Environmental activist Flavia Broffoni stated that “the science is clear” regarding the potential environmental impact of mining in periglacial environments.

According to a 2018 count, there are nearly 17,000 glaciers or rock glaciers in Argentina. In the northwest of the country, where mining activity is concentrated, glacial reserves have shrunk by 17 percent over the last decade due to climate change.

The reform would give individual provinces more powers to decide which areas need protection and which can be exploited for economic purposes. The amendment was approved by the Senate in February and has been met with widespread opposition from environmental groups.

Source: Al Jazeera