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Under Amlo, Mexico nationalises lithium
The success of the new Mining Law will give the Mexican state unique powers to extract and develop this critical resource for technology – and more moves away from neoliberalism towards deeper sovereignty are afoot, reports DAVID RABY
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ON April 19-20 both houses of the Mexican Congress passed a reform of the Mining Law to nationalise lithium, a strategic mineral of which the country has large deposits.
The reform, proposed by President Amlo, is quite categorical: “Lithium is declared to be of public utility, so there will be no concessions, licences, permits or authorisations on the subject.
“Those zones where there are lithium deposits will be considered mining reserves. It is recognised that lithium is the patrimony of the nation and its exploration, exploitation, processing and use is reserved for the Mexican people.”
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