The prestigious international outlet Mining Journal — one of the mining industry’s most influential publications since its founding in London in 1835 — highlighted the institutional and regulatory advances achieved by the Province of Mendoza as it continues to strengthen its position as an emerging metal-producing jurisdiction.
In its analysis, Mining Journal reviewed the package of four mining-related laws recently approved by the Mendoza Senate and House of Representatives, while also featuring key statements from Mendoza’s Minister of Energy and Environment, Jimena Latorre, regarding the province’s evolving mining framework.
According to the publication, one of the cornerstone reforms establishes a new progressive royalty system aligned with the national sliding scale ranging from 3% to 5%. Minister Latorre explained that the model was inspired by the royalty structure used in Argentina’s oil and gas sector, allowing royalty levels to adjust according to international commodity prices and project cost structures.
“Mendoza now has a progressive system similar to the one used in the oil and gas sector, capable of adapting to changes in market prices and different project cost structures. This provides greater clarity for private investors,” Latorre stated in remarks cited by Mining Journal.
The article also underscored the legislative approval of environmental impact declarations for strategic mining projects, including the San Jorge copper project in Uspallata, which involves an estimated investment of US$559 million.
According to the publication, the project — being developed by Zonda Metals and Grupo Alberdi — is expected to produce approximately 40,000 tonnes of copper annually over a 16-year mine life, with operations potentially beginning in 2028.
For Latorre, the parliamentary ratification of these projects represents a major institutional milestone, since it validates not only the technical work carried out by her ministry and other provincial agencies, but also grants political and social legitimacy to the decisions adopted.
“This was not merely a technical evaluation process, but the ratification of decisions by a democratically elected political body. That generates legal certainty for investments and defines the direction of the province’s political economy,” the minister said.
Legal Predictability
Another key development highlighted by Mining Journal was the creation of a regulatory framework for an environmental compensation fund, as established under Argentina’s General Environmental Law. The initiative is intended to guarantee remediation resources for potential environmental impacts while also financing infrastructure projects aimed at improving environmental conditions.
Latorre clarified that the fund is not limited exclusively to mining developments and noted that proper implementation of the regulation will allow Mendoza to effectively access those resources.
The international publication also emphasized the ratification of 27 environmental impact declarations for exploration projects within the Malargüe Western Mining District. This strategy — focused on completing social and environmental studies in advance — seeks to facilitate future investment attraction and partnerships with international mining companies. New drilling campaigns are expected to begin during the next exploration season.
Finally, the article addressed one of the most sensitive issues in Mendoza’s public debate surrounding mining activity: water use and control. Mining Journal referenced Latorre’s explanations regarding the province’s monitoring and oversight mechanisms, including citizen participation in water resource supervision.
According to the minister, this approach is designed to overcome the historical resistance to mining activity in Mendoza through proactive controls, transparency, and continuous environmental monitoring.
With this analysis, Mining Journal positions Mendoza as a province advancing toward a modern, predictable institutional framework aligned with international standards, further strengthening its profile before the global mining and financial community.