Michael Meding, managing director of McEwen Copper and Los Azules Copper Mining Project, speaks during an interview with AFP in Buenos Aires on March 17, 2026. "Mining will spread across the entire mountain range, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs," Argentine President Javier Milei predicted in March. Weeks later, he enacted a reform of the glacier protection law that will allow provinces to open up new areas to mining. Environmental groups challenged the measure in court, arguing that it threatens access to water. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

This aerial view shows a mountain meadow, that the site of the future open-pit mine at in Los Azules Copper Mining Project in the Andes Mountain range in Calingasta, San Juan province, Argentina, on April 21, 2026. "Mining will spread across the entire mountain range, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs," Argentine President Javier Milei predicted in March. Weeks later, he enacted a reform of the glacier protection law that will allow provinces to open up new areas to mining. Environmental groups challenged the measure in court, arguing that it threatens access to water. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

Drill cores are seen in Los Azules Copper Mining Project in the Andes mountain range in Calingasta, San Juan province, Argentina, on April 22, 2026. "Mining will spread across the entire mountain range, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs," Argentine President Javier Milei predicted in March. Weeks later, he enacted a reform of the glacier protection law that will allow provinces to open up new areas to mining. Environmental groups challenged the measure in court, arguing that it threatens access to water. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

This night view shows the snow-covered peaks of the Andes mountain range, taken from the Los Azules copper mine in Calingasta, San Juan province, Argentina, on April 21, 2026. "Mining will spread across the entire mountain range, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs," Argentine President Javier Milei predicted in March. Weeks later, he enacted a reform of the glacier protection law that will allow provinces to open up new areas to mining. Environmental groups challenged the measure in court, arguing that it threatens access to water. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

This aerial view shows snow-covered peaks of the Andes mountain range with a road built for mineral exploration in Calingasta, San Juan province, Argentina, on April 21, 2026. "Mining will spread across the entire mountain range, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs," Argentine President Javier Milei predicted in March. Weeks later, he enacted a reform of the glacier protection law that will allow provinces to open up new areas to mining. Environmental groups challenged the measure in court, arguing that it threatens access to water. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

A worker extracts a drill core at a drilling station in Los Azules Copper Mining Project in the Andes mountain range in Calingasta, San Juan province, Argentina, on April 21, 2026. "Mining will spread across the entire mountain range, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs," Argentine President Javier Milei predicted in March. Weeks later, he enacted a reform of the glacier protection law that will allow provinces to open up new areas to mining. Environmental groups challenged the measure in court, arguing that it threatens access to water. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

This aerial view shows a road built for mineral exploration next to a mountain meadow that will be the future site of the open-pit mine at in Los Azules Copper Mining Project in the Andes Mountain range in Calingasta, San Juan province, Argentina, on April 21, 2026. "Mining will spread across the entire mountain range, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs," Argentine President Javier Milei predicted in March. Weeks later, he enacted a reform of the glacier protection law that will allow provinces to open up new areas to mining. Environmental groups challenged the measure in court, arguing that it threatens access to water. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

This aerial view shows that the site of the future open-pit mine at Los Azules Copper Mining Project in the Andes mountain range in Calingasta, San Juan province, Argentina, on April 21, 2026. "Mining will spread across the entire mountain range, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs," Argentine President Javier Milei predicted in March. Weeks later, he enacted a reform of the glacier protection law that will allow provinces to open up new areas to mining. Environmental groups challenged the measure in court, arguing that it threatens access to water. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)