Rio Tinto’s Rincón de Litio becomes Argentina’s first mining project approved under the RIGI incentives. Backed by a $2.7B investment, it will produce 60,000 tons of lithium annually in Salta.
Colbún has withdrawn its El Encanto solar and energy storage project in Chile’s O’Higgins Region following growing environmental concerns and community opposition. The decision highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by renewable energy developments in rural areas.
Australia is investing $5 billion to establish a national strategic reserve of lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, aiming to enhance trade leverage, economic resilience, and national security.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced tariffs exceeding 3,500% on solar panels from Southeast Asia, targeting what officials call a “transnational subsidy scheme” led by China. The move, which could reshape global solar supply chains, pits trade enforcement against clean energy expansion as the U.S. balances industrial protection with climate goals.
Latin America is rapidly expanding its solar energy sector with key support from Chinese firms, aiming for 160 GW of capacity by 2034 despite infrastructure challenges.