News
27/02/26
Argentina's senate approves glacier law reform
Argentina's senate approves glacier law reform
Sao Paulo, 26 February (Argus) — Argentina's senate approved a core reform in
the country's glacier protection law, a landmark decision long pursued by the
mining industry and President Javier Milei. In a tight vote, Argentina's senate
ruled 40-31 in favor of reforming the law, narrowly exceeding the 36 votes
needed for an approval. The bill now moves to the chamber of deputies, where it
needs another approval vote to be sanctioned. Since Milei strongly backs the
reform, his party and allies that usually side with the administration in big
votes should make up the necessary majority to pass the bill. Still, another
tight vote is expected, so the outcome remains uncertain. If approved, the
country's provinces will now be able to decide which glaciers are important to
their water resources and which are not. The "non-functional" glaciers would
then be allowed to become mining sites. Reforms to the glacier protection law
have been pitched several times, but this would be the first change in its text
since it was sanctioned in 2010. The updated legislation is expected to be a
major boost to Argentina's stagnant copper industry , as several resources of
the red metal are found within the glaciers' perimeters. The country's mining
secretary released a report in early February forecasting that Argentina would
account for 6.1pc of the world's copper production by 2035 at over 1.5mn metric
tonnes (t)/yr. Javier Milei's office said that law in its original form allows
for misinterpretation that creates legal uncertainty, curtails investments and
deprives provinces the right to regulate their natural resources. The original
law, among other restrictions, forbids mineral exploration and extraction within
the glaciers' perimeter, which is currently set by the Argentinian institute of
nivology, glaciology and environmental sciences (IANIGLA) based on unclear
criteria, Milei said on 14 November . After an hours-long debate, the senate
passed the updated bill with strong support from mining provinces Mendonza, San
Juan, Catamarca and Salta, and non-mining provinces such as Ciudad Autonoma de
Buenos Aires and Tierra del Fuego — home to part of Patagonia. The decision,
however, was far from unanimous, as those opposed included, but were not limited
to, the Cordoba, La Rioja, Santa Cruz, and Buenos Aires provinces. Agustín Coto,
a senator representing Tierra del Fuego, said that the IANIGLA would remain in
control of the country's glacier inventory and would not be dismantled or
defunded. "The provinces will now be able to remove or add [glaciers] from the
inventory based on technical and scientific criteria," Coto said. "I find it
valuable that [a law] recognizes that the provinces are not savages." Guillermo
Andrada, a senator representing the Catamarca province, also defended the
reform. Mining is Catamarca's main source of income. "There is a golden rule to
what we are proposing: no one is to touch glaciers that act as a water reserve,"
he said, echoing the common argument among officials that defended the reform.
Backlash is expected to follow The proposed reform has faced criticism from
several fronts since it was introduced by Javier Milei on 14 November. Opponents
say changes to the glacier protection law could affect Argentina's water supply.
Meltwater from glaciers helps maintain river levels across the country and
supports irrigation for agricultural production. Hours before the debate,
Greenpeace activists entered the Argentinian Senate building but were removed
after a brief confrontation with police. Inside the Senate, several lawmakers
voiced their concerns with the reform during the debate. "This is not about
mining," said Alejandra Vigo, a senator representing the Cordoba province. "This
is about water; the most important resource Argentina has for our development
and for the future of investments in our country." In early February, protests
took place in more than 35 cities nationwide. Demonstrators argued that reducing
protections for glaciers could affect river basins fed by Andean ice and
glaciers' perimeters. Protests are expected to resurface now the reform has been
approved. By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at
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