Argentina's Congress Approves Milei's Glacier Mining Bill Amid Environmental Fury
Argentina's congress has approved a controversial bill promoted by libertarian President Javier Milei, authorising mining in ecologically sensitive glacier and permafrost regions, a move that has ignited widespread environmental outrage.
Legislative Change Eases Metal Extraction in Frozen Andes
The amendment to the existing "glacier law," which was previously passed by the senate in February, facilitates the extraction of metals such as copper, lithium, and silver in the frozen parts of the Andes mountains. This legislative shift aims to boost mining activities in areas previously protected under environmental regulations.
After nearly twelve hours of intense debate, the chamber of deputies, Argentina's lower house, approved the amendment with 137 votes in favour, 111 against, and three abstentions. Environmentalists argue that these changes will significantly weaken protections for crucial water sources, posing a severe risk to the nation's water supply.
Protests and Clashes Mark Parliamentary Decision
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside parliament on Wednesday, with isolated skirmishes breaking out between protesters and police. Participants held banners with slogans like "Water is more precious than gold!" and "A glacier destroyed cannot be restored!" highlighting their fears over irreversible environmental damage.
Earlier in the day, seven Greenpeace activists were arrested after scaling a statue outside parliament and unfurling a banner urging lawmakers "not to betray the Argentine people." This protest underscores the deep-seated opposition to the bill among environmental groups.
Milei's Push for Economic Development Amid Climate Skepticism
President Milei, a free-market radical who does not believe in human-made climate change, asserts that the bill is essential to attract large-scale mining projects. Argentina is a major producer of lithium, a critical component for the global technology and green energy sectors. The Central Bank of Argentina estimates, based on industry forecasts, that the country could triple its mining exports by 2030 as a result of this legislation.
Milei has controversially stated that "environmentalists would rather see us starve than have anything touched," framing the debate as a choice between economic growth and environmental preservation.
Scientific and Legal Concerns Over Water Security
Environmental activists and experts have raised alarms about the potential consequences. Flavia Broffoni, an environmental activist, emphasised that "the science is clear ... there is absolutely no possibility of creating what they call a 'sustainable mine' in a periglacial environment."
According to a 2018 inventory, Argentina is home to nearly 17,000 glaciers or rock glaciers. In the north-west, where mining is concentrated, glacial reserves have shrunk by 17% over the last decade, primarily due to climate change, as reported by the Argentine Institute of Snow Research, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences.
Provincial Powers and Economic Ambitions
The new legislation grants individual provinces greater authority to decide which periglacial areas—regions on the edges of glaciers—require protection and which can be exploited for economic purposes. This change has been supported by governors of northern Andean provinces with strong mining sectors, including Mendoza, San Juan, Catamarca, and Salta.
Supporters of the bill, such as Michael Meding, managing director of the Los Azules copper mining project in San Juan province, argue that it provides "legal certainty" and "clear definitions," addressing ambiguities in the 2010 law. However, critics like Enrique Viale, president of the Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers, warn that the legislation threatens the water supply for 70% of Argentinians, highlighting the high stakes involved in this policy shift.
