The Most Important Exploration Field Season Commences in Argentina.
This is the first full field season under Milei’s leadership, with the RIGI framework in place, offering the most favourable conditions for foreign investment in decades.
I’ve spent the last few days reviewing key updates since my last article, “My Top Argentine Mining and Exploration Picks for Investors.” 🇦🇷
Being an Aussie based in Buenos Aires and drawing from my experience as a Project Geologist with AngloGold Ashanti, I enjoy covering this topic.
Right now, I’m closely tracking Unico Silver, Challenger Gold, Pampa Metals, and Belararox Resources. With the field season beginning, I’ve also analysed their one-month share performance to see how they’re progressing.
It’s an exciting time for the sector, with several mining and exploration companies set to benefit from the Milei government’s RIGI scheme (Régimen de Incentivo a las Grandes Inversiones). The scheme provides tax breaks, eased currency controls, and lower royalties, making Argentina as attractive to foreign investors as it has been in decades.
These changes have already drawn the attention of major players like BHP, Lundin Mining, First Quantum, and Glencore. Additionally, the RIGI incentives improve the economics for smaller resource-stage exploration stocks, making these projects more viable and appealing to investors.
One of the biggest wins under RIGI is the reduction in corporate taxes. Under this scheme, Argentina’s corporate income tax rate has been lowered to 25% from the previous rate of 35%. This reduced rate applies for 30 years to qualifying projects, providing long-term relief for investors and easing the burdens that were imposed during the Kirchner-era policies of economic protectionism.
With these reforms, Argentina is now more aligned with countries like Chile and Peru, which are known for their competitive mining sectors.
The big question on my mind is: Can the geology and mineralisation deliver for Argentina 🇦🇷 this field season?