This conflict is the first by lithium mining that occurs outside the area known as the "lithium triangle", which covers regions of Argentina-Chile-Bolivia. Unlike the rest of the conflicts by lithium in Argentina, located in the northwest of the country, San Francisco del Monte de Oro is located in the province of San Luis, 100 kilometers from the provincial capital. It has approximately 3 thousand inhabitants who, traditionally, developed agricultural activities on an almost virgin scenario, surrounded by saws, mountains, a lush flora and a diverse fauna that includes from wild boar to condors. The landscape is completed with five caudal rivers that constitute the water reserve, which feeds nature point and turned the site into an emerging tourist destination (Esteban, 2018). It is a region that already had mining activity, abandoned a few decades ago. |
Lithium exploration in San Luis province. Neighbors organization rejects the mining project, and demands from authorities the preservation of protected natural area and water sources.
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| Name of conflict: | Lithium exploration in San Luis, Argentina |
| Country: | Argentina |
| State or province: | saint Louis |
| Location of conflict: | San Francisco del Monte de Oro |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Mineral Ores and Building Materials Extraction |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Mineral ore exploration |
| Specific commodities: | Lithium |
| Project details | La Mina Gemini, 12 ha, is within the area of Concessions Don Gregorio that Latin Resources has located in the Sierra Grande de San Luís, just 8 km from the town of San Francisco del Monte de Oro. La Canadian Latin Resources reports That in addition to the Gemini mine, only in the province of San Luis has some 120,000 hectares of concessions for mining exploitation of pegmatic rocks, and also claims new applications of this type for 98,086 ha. The sampling presented by the company in September 2017 was performed without permission from the Government of San Luis. Recently new truck movements are observed, since the firm would have received the approval of the environmental impact report (group of studies in geopolitics and natural goods, 2018). |
| Project area: | 400. |
| Type of population | Semi-urban |
| Affected Population: | 3,700. |
| Start of the conflict: | 2017 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Latin Resources Limited from Australia |
| Relevant government actors: | Deliberative Council of San Francisco del Monte de Oro. Intendant of San Francisco del Monte de Oro. Provincial Government of San Luis. University of the Punta, Government of San Luis. Ministry of the Environment of the province of San Luis. Provincial direction of mining and the biodiversity program. Program Management and Environmental Support, Industrial and Mining. |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Autoconvocated neighbors of San Francisco del Monte de Oro and from Paraje Río Juan Gómez. Assembly I love my saws. https://www.facebook.com/yoamoamissierras/ |
| Intensity | LOW (some local organising) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local ejos Neighbours/citizens/communities Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Blockades Community-based participative research (popular epidemiology studies, etc..) Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Media based activism/alternative media Objections to the EIA Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches |
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
| Project Status | Proposed (exploration phase) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | New legislation Strengthening of participation |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Protection of protected natural area. Tourist activities. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | The organization of the neighbors is maintained and are carrying out information strategies and visibilization of the problem. The Government has not explicitly manifested or provides neighbors with the information requested. The company manifests interest in exploring and exploiting lithium in the area of central Sierras de San Luis. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Last update | 09/09/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 4011 |