The government of Jujuy province is working to strengthen its international agenda and build strategic partnerships to boost lithium development in the Puna region. In this context, Minister of Mining José Gómez and Exequiel Lello Ivacevich, president of Jujuy Energía y Minería Sociedad del Estado (JEMSE), met with Jérôme Pécresse, Chief Executive for Aluminum and Lithium at Rio Tinto; Ignacio Costa, general manager for Argentina at Lithium; Luciano Mancuso, general manager of Operations in Argentina at Lithium; and Mario Gerónimo, president of the Olaroz Chico Indigenous Community.
The meeting took place as the sector experiences significant growth following Rio Tinto’s recent acquisition of Arcadium Lithium. This deal has reinforced Rio Tinto’s global position in the lithium market. The participants discussed action plans for 2026, as well as investment projections and technological development within the province.
Minister Gómez said conditions are set for mining activity in 2026 to exceed levels reached in 2025, driven by project maturation and ongoing legal security. He noted that growth brings logistical challenges that must be addressed: “It is very difficult for mining to grow if we do not have roads suitable for transporting production,” he stated, specifying that about 120 trucks carrying mining loads travel daily on National Route 52.
A key focus during the meeting was strengthening environmental controls and working jointly with local communities. The province has achieved record numbers in oversight activities, with 138 environmental inspections and 52 approved environmental impact studies over the last period.
Exequiel Lello Ivacevich emphasized that hosting an international delegation allowed stakeholders to outline future growth stages directly on site and reaffirmed JEMSE’s active role as a strategic partner in the Olaroz project operated by Sales de Jujuy. “The Jujuy model—with a state company participating in such an important project that generates value and jobs—shows it is possible to combine private investment with public presence. This sustained involvement allows us to plan continuous expansion of operations and adopt best practices from the global industry,” he said.
He also highlighted that the public-private partnership framework promoted by the province provides predictability and governance, positioning Jujuy as a leader in northern Argentina by integrating international investment, state participation, and local development.
The continued growth of Olaroz Chico was cited as clear evidence of positive impacts from provincial mining policies. Mario Gerónimo stated: “Our absolute priority is our community. Historically we have supported mining and want to continue doing so because today this support translates into real investments, infrastructure, and development for our residents.”
Jérôme Pécresse underlined the strategic importance of projects within the province: “The company’s goal is to create opportunities, continuously improve, and focus on job creation.” He added: “Argentina’s largest production project is located in Jujuy,” highlighting the significance of local operations within Rio Tinto’s global structure.
