Environmental Brake on Lithium Brine Projects in Catamarca

Catamarca’s Supreme Court has reinforced an injunction halting new lithium authorizations around the Salar del Hombre Muerto until cumulative environmental impact studies are completed. This decision impacts expansion schedules for several evaporation-pond projects in Argentina’s “Lithium Triangle.”

While local industry reports suggest that a management study has been delivered to ease restrictions, the case underscores how water governance and social license are becoming primary constraints. Investors are now closely monitoring the phased easing of these restrictions to adjust their project pipelines.