The approval was granted to the Canadian miner’s subsidiary Proyecto Pastos Grandes S.A. and it allows for a 24,000-tonne-per-year battery-grade lithium carbonate production facility to run on the property.

Known in Spanish as “Declaración de Impacto Ambiental” or DIA, the permit is the main environmental approval document required for mining projects in the Salta province to proceed to the construction stage and to operate.

“The rapid approval by the Salta government reflects both the detailed and comprehensive nature of the EIA and the commitment of the government to continue supporting viable mining projects,” Farhad Abasov, Millennial Lithium’s president and CEO, said in a media statement.

“We are pleased to have secured this approval which makes Pastos Grandes one of the most advanced lithium projects in the world.”

Located in the northwestern part of Argentina, Pastos Grandes covers over 12,619 hectares. To date, Millennial has invested over C$40 million in exploration and development work on the property, which includes 22 completed exploration/monitoring wells, four pumping test production wells, pilot ponds, the pilot plant as well as a year-round camp supported by a hybrid solar power system.