It took less than 24 hours to effectively abolish a controversial mining law that sparked massive protests in the province of Mendoza in Argentina’s western-central region.
After announcing his decision to annul the law late last week, Mendoza’s governor Rodolfo Suárez presented a formal request before the legislature on Monday. Right away and with 34 votes in favour and 2 against, the Senate approved the annulment.
Mendoza has 19 mining proposals waiting for approval. Most of them focus on copper extraction but there are also gold, silver, lead, zinc and uranium projects on the drawing board
In the Lower Chamber, however, it took a bit longer and there were four negative votes and one absentee. Despite the lengthy discussion, before the end of the day, Law 9209 which modified Law 7722 and allowed for the use of cyanide and sulfuric acid in mining operations was abolished.
This means that, on publication in Mendoza’s Official Bulletin on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, Law 7722 will be reinstalled.
According to some MPs interviewed by local media, annulling the law was the right thing to do as people from all around the province clearly and loudly expressed their rejection to the possibility of allowing mining companies to use toxic chemicals.
Talking to Los Andes newspaper, MP Guillermo Mosso said that even though he voted negative, he understands Suárez’s decision and respects him for pushing for a peaceful solution to the issue. Explaining how he voted, Mosso said that he still believes that it is important to allow mining operations in Mendoza to promote social development and that authorities and stakeholders need to find ways to reconcile mineral extraction with water preservation and agriculture.
Similarly, the Association of Metallurgical Industries of Mendoza issued a communiqué saying that abolishing the law seems to go against the urgent need to diversify Mendoza’s economy. In the group’s view, it is possible to advance large-scale mining projects in a responsible manner with the highest quality standards of environmental protection.
But the thousands that protested on the streets of different towns and cities across the province for over a week seem to think otherwise. Concerned citizens, left-wing parties and environmental organizations said they worried about the possibility of cyanide and sulfuric acid contaminating the province’s waterways and water supply.
“This is an unprecedented and historic achievement. People in Mendoza protected their province’s water,” Enrique Viale, the spokesperson for Greenpeace Argentina, said in a media statement. “The regulation was approved in a moment when Mendoza is experiencing the worst drought ever registered.”