By the end of the first quarter, the company expects to have its Basin Water Balance report completed, after which it will move forward with the prefeasibility study, scheduled for completion before the end of the year.
The International Finance Corp. (IFC) signed a nonbinding agreement with McEwen Copper to evaluate its participation in financing the Los Azules project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper deposits, with a focus on ESG standards, technological innovation and long-term stability.
The purpose of the new company is broad and includes the exploration and exploitation of mineral deposits, as well as the extraction, processing, refining, grinding, transportation and commercialization of minerals and byproducts, along with the provision of related services.
The family-owned company based in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires province, has begun installing its industrial facilities, which will have an annual steel production capacity of 360,000 tons starting in 2028. The company plans to export to the European Union.
The company aims to achieve first production in the first half of 2026, positioning Galan as a low-cost, high-efficiency player in the heart of the Lithium Triangle.
The company plans to carry out detailed mapping, sampling, trenching, and geophysical surveys in preparation for a drilling program scheduled for the second half of 2026.
The company brought in U.S.-based ILiAD Technologies to deploy its advanced Direct Lithium Extraction pilot unit at the Sal de Vida deposit in Catamarca province. ILiAD’s technology uses a selective adsorption platform that captures lithium ions from brine almost instantaneously, while responsibly returning the remaining components to the aquifer.
The Economy Ministry reported that total exports reached $6.037 billion in 2025, the highest level on record. Lithium also posted a new record, and the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) is expected to be one of the main drivers sustaining the sector’s growth in the coming years.
Silver prices surged 150% in 2025 and continue their bullish rally. Argentina is home to one of the world’s largest undeveloped silver deposits — the Navidad project — with estimated reserves of more than 600 million ounces of silver. The project has remained dormant for years.
Vicuña aims to become one of the world’s largest copper, gold and silver districts. It recently applied to Argentina’s Incentive Regime for Large Investments, known as RIGI, under the Long-Term Strategic Export Projects category.
It could lead to the creation of the world’s largest mining company, with a combined market value exceeding $200 billion, surpassing even BHP. The merged group would be a world-class player in copper.
The amendment seeks to optimize the attraction of foreign capital and align the administrative evaluation process with economic diplomacy. Technical requirements for participation include the submission of an investment plan, an export impact assessment, and compliance with environmental and labor standards.
The core of the project is the development and exploitation of the Deep Carbonates Project, through which the company expects to produce about 120,000 ounces of gold annually over a minimum period of 17 years. The committed investment is US$665 million, of which roughly US$50 million will be allocated to geological exploration.
The agreement covers construction of the San Jorge 220/33-kilovolt transformer station and a new 220-kilovolt transmission line linking it to the Mendoza Norte station, accelerating project construction and supporting development in Uspallata and the surrounding area.
The company aims to raise lithium carbonate output from 45,000 to 85,000 metric tons per year using Direct Lithium Extraction technology, improving efficiency and further reducing water and energy use.
