"Pollution: Catamarca Fines Chinese Mining Company ARS 254 Million for Brine Spill", 20 April 2026

...The government of Catamarca, through the Ministry of Mining, declared LIEX (a subsidiary of Zijin Mining) responsible for a brine spill onto National Route 60, which occurred on 25 March. The company, which operates the Tres Quebradas lithium project, was consequently fined ARS 254 million...

Authorities stated, on the one hand, that the spill resulted from the company's operational failures and, on the other, that the environmental damage did not have any permanent consequences for the affected area...

Although the damage was not permanent, all reports agreed in identifying LIEX S.A.'s actions as a case of "operational negligence", evidenced by shortcomings in transport monitoring, spill prevention measures, and staff training.

As a result, it was decided that the financial penalty would be paid into the mining trust fund, and the company was given seven working days to settle the fine, with the deadline running from 17 April...