Argentina's Mendoza province approves first copper mining project in over two decades

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The Senate of Argentina's Mendoza province on Tuesday approved an environmental impact statement for the PSJ Cobre Mendocino copper project, marking the first large-scale metal development to receive legislative approval in the province in more than two decades.

• The project has an estimated initial investment of $600 million and an average annual production of 40,000 metric tons of fine copper.

• The approval occurred amid protests by anti-mining demonstrators gathered near Mendoza's Legislative Assembly.

• "We are opening the door to copper production, a fundamental mineral for advancing towards the energy transition," Provincial Governor Alfredo Cornejo said in a post on X.

• Argentina has not produced copper since the closure of the Alumbrera mine in 2018.

• The project is owned by Swiss company Zonda Metals GmbH and Argentine company Alberdi Energy.