Water legislation in the context of lithium mining in Argentina

Abstract

Brines from salt pans of the Andean plateau hold large lithium reserves on Earth. There are at least 12 salt pans representing interesting lithium prospects in the Argentine Andes. We present the results of a review of modern laws ruling water and lithium mining in Argentina. Lithium-bearing brines are legally considered as water and mineral resources and ruled by abundant federal legislations that neglect the intrinsic nature of the resource: saline waters stored within the salt pan underground. Consequently, legislation in the context of brine-type lithium mining defines a far too complex legal scenario and administrative labyrinth in Argentina.