Mexico

Mexico

Reserves all lithium exploration and exploitation activities exclusively for the Mexican State

20 Apr 2022

On 19 April, the Mexican Government enacted a new decree introducing several reforms to the National Mining Law in regards to the exploration and exploitation of lithium. The decree entered into force on 20 April.

As a result of the entry into force of the new decree, Article 5 bis of the reformed Mining Law now declares lithium as a national resource of public utility and bans all concessions, licenses, contracts, permits or authorizations regarding exploration and exploitation of such mineral in the country. The reformed bill establishes that all activities of exploration and exploitation of lithium will be carried by a decentralized public authority to be created by the Government.