Mining Plunder and the Urgency of National Unity in Argentina

Pablo Rutigliano, president of the Latin American Chamber of Lithium, shares his opinion on what he describes as the "monopolization and cartelization of mining" in Argentina

Argentina is undergoing a process of monopolization and cartelization of mining that is no coincidence, but rather the result of the actions of the mining caste, supported by local and foreign business chambers based in London, which finance the media and set agendas that serve their interests.

Far from protecting the Argentine people, politicians have gone along with this scheme, allowing large corporations to extract resources while leaving crumbs for the country.

Since the Constitutional Reform of 1994, the provinces have owned natural resources. However, it should be remembered that these provinces are part of a nation: the Argentine Republic. And in a federal country, the national interest must prevail over any partial interest. The National Mining Secretariat should be the guarantor of this protection, but the truth is that it has never done so: neither in previous governments nor in the current one.

Meanwhile, large foreign corporations operate as branches of plunder, without demonstrating genuine capital contributions, without complying with promised investment plans, and exporting strategic resources such as lithium through under-invoicing and smuggling practices. This was demonstrated in criminal complaint 3309/2023, filed by the Latin American Chamber of Lithium, which provided countless reports and evidence of lithium evasion and smuggling.

To tell the truth, the Chamber was systematically harassed and censored: removed from forums, excluded from debates, extorted, and persecuted by the media. This is how the mining caste operates and lies, ensuring that only its own discourse circulates and hiding the reality of the plundering that the country is experiencing.

The central problem is that Argentina remains divided. And that division is precisely what those who profit from plundering are seeking. That is why it is necessary to move toward national unity and a mining consensus, with the participation of all social, productive, and political actors. There can be no mining without transparency and oversight, much less without all Argentines receiving the benefits of their own resources.

The Latin American Lithium Chamber maintains that the solution involves three key points:

• National Mining Census: strict and public oversight of which companies operate in the country, how much capital they have contributed, and what their actual monthly turnover is.

• Transparency via blockchain: apply technology that ensures traceability at every stage of the mining chain, guaranteeing open and verifiable information.

• Creation of an Argentine Metal Market: set prices at source, break up international cartels, and ensure that investments are genuine, not mere financial anchors.

Mining can and should be an engine of development. But to achieve this, the nation must regain control and sovereignty over its resources. Today, the reality is clear: Argentina continues to be plundered with the endorsement of the Argentine Chamber of Mining Entrepreneurs and provincial chambers, while the national government looks the other way.

National unity is key. Mining cannot continue to be a business for the few, managed from desks in London or offices in Buenos Aires. It must become a strategic policy for all Argentinians, with consensus, control, and transparency.