Galan Lithium assures that court ruling in Argentina does not alter its lithium project

The Australian mining company Galan Lithium assured that the recent measure issued by a court in the Argentine province of Catamarca regarding the environmental impact on the gigantic Salar del Hombre Muerto does not alter the development of its mining project. lithium Dead Man West (HMW).

Princewhose representatives met this Monday with authorities of the Government of Catamarca, stated in a statement that the ruling “has no impact on permissions” from HMW, so construction of phase 1 of the project continues.

Last Wednesday, the Court of the province of Catamarca (northwest) declared an environmental protection action promoted by an indigenous community admissible and ordered the Government of Catamarca to carry out an environmental impact study “cumulative and integral” of the development of lithium mining activity on the Los Patos River, in the department of Antofagasta de la Sierra, within the Salar del Hombre Muerto area.

Prince I affirm that “The resolution is also not expected to have any impact on HMW’s Phase 2 development plans or the permitting process.“, since the mining company “does not plan to obtain water from the Los Patos River”.

“Galán is confident that the Phase 2 permit application process will continue on course with continued strong support from both local communities and the Government.”says the statement.

According to official sources, the governor of Catamarca, Raúl Jalil, met this Monday with the general director of Galan Lithium, Juan Pablo Vargas de la Vega, “to discuss the progress and details of the project” that runs the company and “the investments planned for the coming months.”

The recent court ruling responds to the protection presented in 2021 by the Atacameños del Altiplano indigenous community, which denounced that Catamarca authorized mining projects without respecting the regulations and that “irreversible environmental damage” when the Trapiche River plain dried up completely due to the capture of surface and underground water by the American company Livent for the Fénix project.

Arcadium Lithiuma company incorporated in Ireland as a result of the recent merger of the Australian company Allkem and of Liventalso stated days ago that the court ruling does not affect Fénix’s production nor the construction of its Sal de Vida lithium project.

In the enormous Salar del Hombre Muerto, shared by the Argentine provinces of Salta and Catamarca, other mining companies operate, such as the Korean Posco and the Canadian Lithium South.

With only three projects in production out of a total of 50 in various stages of development, Argentina is the fourth largest producer of lithium in the world (behind Australia, Chile and China), the third in reserves (behind Chile and Australia) and the second in resources (behind Bolivia).