Environmental Impact of Lithium Mining in Argentina and Chile: A Silent Crisis Behind the EV Revolution

As the world shifts to electric vehicles, Argentina and Chile are extracting lithium at record levels. This article investigates the ecological and social consequences of lithium mining in fragile Andean ecosystems and Indigenous territories.

Lithium mining in South America's salt flats is fueling the green energy transition, but at a growing environmental and human cost.

As global automakers race to abandon fossil fuels and embrace electric vehicles (EVs), the demand for lithium — the core component in rechargeable batteries — has soared. South America's "Lithium Triangle," spanning parts of northern Argentina, northern Chile, and southern Bolivia, holds more than half of the world's known lithium reserves. While Bolivia has yet to develop large-scale extraction, Argentina and Chile have become major players in the global lithium supply chain. However, this boom comes at a cost — one that is increasingly drawing criticism from scientists, Indigenous leaders, and environmental organizations.

The Geography of Lithium: Salt Flats Under Siege

The lithium in Argentina and Chile is primarily extracted from salt flats (salares)—vast, high-altitude basins in the Andes where lithium-rich brine is pumped from underground aquifers to evaporate under the sun. The Salar de Atacama in Chile and the Salar del Hombre Muerto in Argentina are among the most exploited zones.

While the process may seem clean compared to traditional mining, the environmental consequences are profound. To extract one ton of lithium, it can take as much as 2 million liters of water—a staggering figure in regions already suffering from extreme drought and desertification.

Water Depletion and Ecological Stress

In the Salar de Atacama, one of the driest places on Earth, mining companies such as SQM and Albemarle are removing enormous volumes of brine from underground aquifers. This has led to measurable declines in freshwater availability for both wildlife and human populations. A 2023 study by the Chilean NGO Fundación Terram found that the region's water table had dropped by more than one meter over the past decade, affecting flamingo populations, local flora, and fragile wetlands.

In Argentina's Catamarca province, Indigenous communities like the Atacameños and Kolla have raised concerns about how lithium operations are depleting lagoons and contaminating water sources. Unlike in Chile, where environmental regulation is relatively strict, Argentina has a more fragmented and permissive framework, often controlled by provincial governments that prioritize foreign investment.

Indigenous Rights and Land Conflicts

Lithium mining projects often overlap with ancestral Indigenous lands. In both Chile and Argentina, communities have reported being excluded from decision-making processes and environmental assessments. In 2022, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples warned that many lithium operations in the region may be violating the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

In Argentina, protests have grown over new concessions granted in Salta and Jujuy, where dozens of Indigenous communities have demanded a halt to exploration until proper consultation is conducted. These conflicts are not just legal — they are existential, as mining threatens sacred sites, water sources, and traditional ways of life.

The Myth of Clean Energy?

Ironically, the shift to electric vehicles—seen globally as a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—relies on extractive practices that are far from green in local contexts. Lithium mining generates carbon emissions, land degradation, and chemical waste. Moreover, the "greenwashing" of lithium ignores the fact that communities in Latin America are bearing the environmental burden for technological transitions driven by wealthier nations.

Environmental groups are calling for greater transparency in lithium supply chains and more rigorous life-cycle assessments of battery production. They argue that true sustainability must account for social justice and ecological balance, not just lower emissions at the tailpipe.

Corporate and Government Responses

Some mining companies claim they are taking steps to mitigate harm. Albemarle, for instance, has partnered with some local communities and introduced monitoring systems to track water usage. Yet critics argue these initiatives often fall short or serve as public relations strategies rather than meaningful reforms.

In Chile, President Gabriel Boric’s administration announced in 2023 a National Lithium Strategy aimed at increasing state control, promoting public-private partnerships, and enforcing stricter environmental standards. Argentina, meanwhile, has seen provinces like Jujuy promote new "green mining" codes—but their effectiveness remains questionable.

The Path Forward: A Just Lithium Transition

Experts agree that lithium is essential for the global energy transition—but how it is extracted matters. Environmental advocates are pushing for:

• Improved water management systems

• Community-led environmental monitoring

• Technology investments to reduce water consumption in brine extraction

• Circular economy models, such as lithium recycling and battery reuse

More radically, some argue for a post-extractivist model: one that moves beyond dependence on resource extraction entirely, especially in ecologically sensitive regions.

Conclusion

The boom in lithium mining in northern Argentina and Chile reveals a difficult truth: the path to a greener planet is not always clean. As Latin America emerges as a key player in the electric vehicle revolution, it must navigate the tension between economic opportunity, environmental preservation, and Indigenous rights. Without meaningful reform, the green energy transition risks repeating the same extractive patterns of the past — only this time, in the name of sustainability.