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Catamarca Turns to Lithium and Copper Mining to Lower Reliance on Public Employment

Catamarca is positioning mining as a key economic engine to reduce public sector employment, which currently accounts for 64% of the province’s workforce.

With ambitious lithium, copper, and gold projects underway, the province is aiming for a “mining boom” fueled by multi-billion-dollar investments.

Governor Raúl Jalil has emphasized the potential of mining to transform the province’s economy and labor structure, proposing it as a sustainable alternative to public employment.

“If we’re allowed to export $40 billion, we can move beyond public sector jobs, because people will follow the better-paying opportunities in mining,” said Jalil, drawing comparisons to Chile, which exports $60 billion annually from its mining sector.

The governor stressed that with legal certainty and the removal of currency controls, Argentina could witness a mining surge. Catamarca currently has mining projects exceeding $1 billion and others in the pipeline totaling up to $6 billion, including investments from three Indian companies.

A Promising Mining Outlook

Governor Jalil’s optimism aligns with the province’s current mining landscape. As of May 2025, Catamarca hosts multiple mining projects at different stages of development. Below is a brief overview of the most significant initiatives:

Lithium Projects

  • Fénix Project (Livent): Operational for over two decades in the Salar del Hombre Muerto, currently expanding to boost production capacity.

  • Hombre Muerto Oeste (HMW) – Galan Lithium: Under construction, with Phase 1 production expected to begin in Q3 2025. Phase 2 aims for an annual output of 21,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), with further expansion planned.

  • Sal de Vida (Rio Tinto): A major expansion of lithium production in the Salar del Hombre Muerto. Rio Tinto has reactivated the project after it was paused in 2024. First output is expected in 2028, with full capacity to be reached after three years of ramp-up.

Copper Projects

  • MARA (Glencore): In the feasibility stage, MARA is awaiting the completion of an advanced exploration campaign. Estimated resources exceed 10 million tons of copper.

  • Filo Colorado: A promising copper and gold project currently under exploration.

Gold and Polymetallic Projects

  • Agua Rica (part of MARA): Originally a copper and gold initiative, now integrated with the former Alumbrera infrastructure under the MARA project.

  • Filo de las Vicuñas: Project with copper and gold potential.

  • Culampajá, El Paso, and Camyen (Cobre Camyen): Rich in gold, copper, and silver.