Argentina Loosens Glacier Protections to Open Andes to Mining

Argentina’s Congress has passed a controversial amendment that reduces protections for the country’s glaciers, clearing the way for expanded mining operations in the Andes. The legislation, backed by President Javier Milei, aims to attract significant foreign investment by easing restrictions on exploration and extraction in regions previously designated as critical water reserves.

The lower house of Congress approved the measure on Thursday, April 9, 2026, marking the final major legislative hurdle for a reform that has sparked intense debate between the administration’s economic goals and environmental preservation.

A Shift in Authority: From National to Provincial

The core of the reform is a fundamental shift in how protected areas are defined. Under the original Glacier Law, approved in 2010, the Argentine Institute for Snow, Ice and Environmental Sciences (Ianigla) held the primary responsibility for identifying and protecting glacier regions. This national framework prohibited all mining and exploration activities in these areas to safeguard the natural dynamics of the ice and the quality of the water.

The new law transfers the authority to define protected glacier areas from Ianigla to provincial governments. President Javier Milei defended the move, stating that the change empowers provinces to utilize their own resources and allows for mining activities in locations “where there was nothing to protect.”

To provide a transition, glaciers and periglacial environments—areas that remain frozen for at least part of the year even if not covered by ice—will remain under the protection of the national Ianigla inventory. However, this protection now lasts only until provincial leaders can prove these areas do not serve as “strategic” water reserves.

Economic Drivers and the RIGI Framework

The push for this legislative change is tied to a broader economic strategy to unlock the mining potential of the Andes. The Milei administration has already implemented a special investment regime known as RIGI, which provides fiscal, exchange, and legal benefits to mining companies.

This framework has already attracted interest from global mining giants, including Glencore Plc, BHP, and Lundin Mining. By loosening the restrictions of the 2010 law, the government seeks to remove barriers that previously blocked these companies from accessing mineral-rich zones in the high mountains.

Environmental Stakes and Political Friction

The reform has faced fierce opposition from environmentalists and some lawmakers who argue that the legislation puts Argentina’s most precious resource—freshwater—at risk. Critics contend that the 2010 law served as a “minimum budget of protection” authorized by Article 41 of the Constitution.

Congresswoman Natalia de la Sota voiced these concerns during the legislative process, stating, “Without water, we can’t even think about a growth and development project.”

Conversely, supporters of the bill argue that the mining industry is being unfairly vilified. Congresswoman Nancy Picón Martínez pushed back against the environmental backlash, asserting that the mining industry was being portrayed “as if it were a monster” and maintaining that “this law protects glaciers, no matter how much some people want us to believe otherwise.”

Legislative Timeline and Vote Breakdown

The path to approval began in the Senate in February 2026. The upper house passed the initiative in general with 40 votes in favor and 31 against, with one abstention from Neuquén’s Julieta Corroza. Support for the reform included members of the Pro party, the radicalism, various provincial blocs, and specific members of the Justicialist block, such as Sergio Uñac of San Juan and Lucía Corpacci of Catamarca.

Following the Senate’s approval, the bill moved to the Chamber of Deputies, where it was passed this week despite protests from citizens gathered outside the Congress in Buenos Aires.

With the law now passed, the focus shifts to the provinces as they begin the process of redefining their protected zones. Environmental groups have indicated they intend to resist the implementation of the law through the judicial system, citing the risk to critical freshwater reserves.

The next official checkpoint will be the implementation of the new guidelines by provincial governments and the subsequent filing of legal challenges by environmental organizations.

Do you think economic growth should take precedence over strict environmental protections in the Andes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.