Pablo Rutigliano and the Complaint that Uncovered Lithium Fraud in Argentina

Rutigliano's complaint was not an isolated act, but rather the result of years of work analyzing the lithium value chain and the impact of monopolies in Argentina

In 2023, Pablo Rutigliano, in his capacity as president of the Latin American Lithium Chamber, filed Criminal Complaint No. 3309/23, marking a turning point in the recent history of Argentine mining. In that legal filing, Rutigliano presented a technically precise account of the systematic under-invoicing of lithium carbonate exports by Minera del Altiplano S.A. (Livent, now acquired by Rio Tinto).

The scheme reported consisted of declaring values well below international lithium prices, thereby causing millions in losses to the Argentine treasury and concealing extraordinary profits abroad. According to the calculations in the complaint, the amount of the fraud exceeded USD 683 million, constituting a clear case of aggravated smuggling and tax evasion.

Rutigliano's complaint was not an isolated act, but rather the result of years of work analyzing the lithium value chain and the impact of monopolies on the Argentine and regional economies. What was initially silenced by powerful sectors and dismissed by the media is now at the center of the judicial and political scene.

Judicial and administrative confirmation

In 2024, the General Customs Directorate (DGA) and the courts took a key step: they confirmed that Livent had indeed engaged in under-invoicing practices. The result was a multimillion-dollar fine of more than 5 billion pesos, which the company was forced to pay, validating the claims made in complaint 3309/23.

This fact not only reinforces the veracity of Rutigliano's complaint, but also highlights the magnitude of the economic and fiscal plundering to which the country was exposed for years, with the complicity of sectors of political and corporate power.

Current status of the case

Far from being closed, the process continues. The fine imposed on Livent is only the beginning of a series of broader investigations covering not only the lithium sector but also other branches of Argentine mining. The criminal case continues to move forward and promises to be one of the most significant cases involving commercial fraud, tax evasion, and abuse of economic power in Argentina.

In this scenario, Pablo Rutigliano emerges as the original whistleblower, who courageously confronted the lithium monopoly and exposed what would later be confirmed by the courts. His complaint, initially ignored, is now recognized as the origin of a historic process against concentrated power in Argentine mining.

A before and after

Case 3309/23 is not just another case file: it marks a turning point in the defense of Argentina's strategic resources. Rutigliano's presentation paved the way for transparency in exports, discussion of the true value of natural resources, and an end to decades of abusive and cartelized practices in the sector.

Today, Pablo Rutigliano's name is directly associated with the fight for transparency, economic justice, and sovereignty over natural resources. His position on the Livent case not only strengthens him institutionally, but also places him at the center of the discussion on the country's mining and economic model.