Argentina reforms glacier law and opens it to mining. The Argentine Chamber of Deputies approved a reform to glacier protection on April 9, 2026. The legislative session concluded at 2:30 a.m. with 137 votes in favor, 111 against, and 3 abstentions. The change authorizes mining activity in periglacial environments, permanently frozen ground (permafrost), surrounding ice masses. These mountain ecosystems act as natural sponges that guarantee river flow in low-lying areas during droughts. President Javier Milei’s controversial decision seeks to attract foreign capital but faces backlash over future water security risks.
Central shift in water protection
This reform redefines the legal boundaries of state-mandated water protection. Only ice bodies with proven hydrological functions will maintain federal safeguards. Provinces will now decide which areas of the national inventory are eligible for exploitation. The Argentine Institute of Nivology, Glaciology, and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA) loses its veto power, transitioning into a purely administrative registry.
The modification removes the automatic ban on frozen ground that had been in effect since 2010. Rock glaciers (masses of debris with internal ice) are now open to extractive activities. This technical update allows for mining exploration in areas where ice is not visible on the surface.
Global capital inflow in San Juan province
The Ministry of Economy of Argentina approved a US$380 million investment for the operator of the Veladero project. The company is a joint venture between Canada’s Barrick Gold and China’s Shandong Gold. The funds will expand the use of chemicals to separate gold and silver from rock in the province of San Juan.
This investment is backed by the Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI), which provides tax benefits in exchange for legal stability. The government projects the creation of 1,100 direct jobs following this agreement with provincial political blocs. The reform aims to unblock high-altitude projects previously stalled by environmental regulations.
Scientific and environmental backlash
Experts from IANIGLA warn that these periglacial zones provide up to half of the water supply during critical periods. Civil organizations claim the reform violates the “non-regression” principle of the Escazu Agreement. This international treaty prohibits states from lowering previously established environmental protection levels. Opposition leaders called the measure unconstitutional and are preparing legal challenges.
Scientists also warn that dust from mining explosions darkens the snow. This phenomenon reduces the albedo effect, the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight. By absorbing more heat, the melting of freshwater reserves accelerates.
Strategic contrast with the Colombian model
The reform widens the legislative gap between Argentina and Colombia. Colombia maintains an absolute ban on mining in its “paramo” highlands through Law 1930 of 2018.
That regulation protects drinking water with the backing of the Colombian Constitutional Court. In contrast, under Milei’s administration, Argentina is moving toward a conditional protection model to prioritize the arrival of foreign currency.