Environmental updates: Aluar maintenance in Argentina and reserve revocation in Colombia

In Argentina, the company Aluar has announced a scheduled preventive maintenance operation for its Smoke Treatment Plant (PTH 8) in Puerto Madryn, set for August 26. The company stated that the temporary service suspension of this emission control system will not affect general aluminum production or pose risks to air quality and public health.

In Colombia, the Ministry of Environment has revoked a resolution that protected 1,499 hectares of the La Baja stream micro-basin in California, Santander. This area is strategically connected to the Santurbán Páramo, a vital ecosystem for regional water regulation. The revocation removes restrictions on new medium and large-scale mining contracts due to identified procedural irregularities and a judicial order requiring a new process with effective community participation. The Ministry intends to conduct a new technical and legal evaluation to determine future protection measures.