20 years of mining in Alumbrera: controversies, learning and pending issues facing Agua Rica

Abstract

This article presents an approach to the main controversies, pending issues and institutional learning after 20 years of exploitation of the Bajo de la Alumbrera mine. Such venture is the most emblematic to understand the mining development model in Argentina and unresolved issues for the new Agua Rica mining project. The analysis is based on literature review and documentation. Findings indicate that there are notorious deficits in access to official public information (at project and sector levels) on socio-economic and environmental impacts as well as on state controls and results. At the provincial level, there are lessons learned in accountability for the use of royalties and greater mining-environmental control. However, an unresolved key issue is the state's recognition of the existence of socio-technical controversies around issues such as pollution generated by the tailings dam, health impacts or complaints of tax evasion and avoidance.