Argentina gives green light to a $2.5 billion Rio Tinto’s lithium project

22nd May 2025 Argentina gives green light to a $2.5 billion Rio Tinto’s lithium project

Argentina’s government has given the green light to a $2.5 billion lithium mining project by Rio Tinto under the new RIGI investment incentive regime. This marks a significant milestone as the first mining project approved under the program, announced by Mining and Energy Secretary Daniel González in Buenos Aires.

Rincon mining project

Rio Tinto’s Rincon project, located in the lithium-rich Salta province, is set to propel Argentina’s mining sector to new heights. With this investment Argentina, the world’s 4th-largest lithium supplier and part of the „lithium triangle,” is cementing its role in the global energy transition.

Industry anxiety

The news has been a relief for Argentina’s mining industry, which voiced concerns over delays in approving other projects since RIGI’s launch nine months ago. Roberto Cacciola, head of the CAEM mining chamber, called the approval major news, expressing: “We are grateful because there was strong anxiety over what was happening with the mining RIGIs” underscoring the sector’s anticipation.

Next aprovals?

Though Rio Tinto’s project is a breakthrough, delays in approving other applications like those from Ganfeng Lithium LATAM, McEwen Copper, and POSCO highlight challenges in navigating Argentina’s complex approval process. Five of the projects are for lithium, while the remaining two are for gold and copper, respectively. However, still, the RIGI framework still offers promising incentives, including tax benefits, international arbitration, and long-term stability.

Economic impact

With inflation and economic instability pressing hard, President Javier Milei’s administration is leaning on the mining sector to boost foreign currency inflows. In 2024, Argentina exported $4.8 billion in minerals, with lithium expected to play an increasingly vital role.

As Rio Tinto moves forward, the industry awaits further approvals to unlock Argentina’s full mining potential, particularly in lithium, gold, and copper.

Next WMC Congress

World Mining Congress

2026

The 27th World Mining Congress will be organized in 2026 in Peru.

Learn more
27th
Next IOC Meeting

IOC / WMC Meeting

2025

The 106th IOC/WMC meeting will be organized on September 18th 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Learn more
106th

Our news Others news

23rd July 2025 Demirli copper mine with first production, another milestone for Anglo Asian Mining

Hauling at the open-pit mine. Source: Photo by omid roshan on Unsplash

Anglo Asian Mining PLC has made a press release informing about first copper production at the…

15th July 2025 Insights from the Sustainable and Responsible Mining through Best Mine Closure Practices

Key speakers on the conference on Sustainable and Responsible Mining through Best Mine Closure Practices

On the 4th of July at Hyderabad, the Indian National Committee World Mining Congress (INC-WMC) organized…

14th July 2025 Protests disrupt copper mining operations in Peru

Truck during hauling process. Source: Photo by Dominik Vanyi on Unsplash.

Reuters has informed that executives from MMG Limited (Las Bambas) and Hudbay Minerals Inc. (Constancia) recently…

10th July 2025 Big milestone for Loma Larga’s Dundee Precious Metals gold project.

Gold bars. Source: Unspalsh.

Dundee Precious Metals Inc. has informed that it has received the environmental license from the Ecuadorian…

10th July 2025 Coal and banking, 3 years after COP26

burning coal. Source: Paweł Czerwiński on unsplash.

In November 2021, the world took a historic step at COP26, when 197 governments pledged to phase…

2nd July 2025 Zijin Mining with a $1.2 billion deal for the Raygorodok gold project

Gold bars. Source: Unspalsh.

Zijin Mining, one of the world’s foremost gold and copper producers, has just made a monumental…

26th June 2025 BOEM approved first-ever request for critical mineral exploration in the deep sea

Seabeds raw minerals. Source; Photo by Nathan Langer on Unsplash

The Pacific Outer Continental Shelf holds immense promise for critical mineral resources vital to modern technology…

25th June 2025 Santa Cruz Copper Project with a strong Preliminary Feasibility Study

Ivanhoe Electric Inc. have made a press release where it has announced the completion of the…

23rd June 2025 Electrum Discovery Corp. unveils exploration breakthroughs at Timok East Copper-Gold

Gold bars. Source: Photo by Zlaťáky.cz on Unsplash

Electrum Discovery Corp. has informed in a press release about the transformative findings from its recent…

17th June 2025 A game-changer in rare earth recycling

Aluminium recycled foil. Source: Unspalsh.

Cyclic Materials has made a press release about its transformative step forward in building a circular…