"Lithium is our best ambassador when it comes to women in mining"

Alejandra Cardona, Executive Director of the Argentine Chamber of Mining Entrepreneurs (CAEM), always remembers Lola Mora, a fellow native of Salta. 'She was known for her sculptures, but in the last years of her life she turned to mining. At a time when it was a job for men only, she would go out with her dogs to explore the roads of the Puna and document the mining work she was doing,' she recalls.

Alejandra now holds a key position within the industry, marking a sign of change in the presence of women in mining. The lithium sector, in particular, is the most dynamic.

–What myths lie behind the low presence of women in mining?

–There are several myths, and sadly, they were crystallized in a law that prohibits women from entering mining operations. It’s a regulation that is still in force. It’s based on various beliefs. One of them says that since Pachamama (Mother Earth) is a woman, another woman cannot enter the womb of a woman. Her presence was believed to bring calamities and tragedies. We're talking about the era when underground cavern mining was predominant. Later, in the Andean highlands, a woman figure known as palliri emerged, who worked in mining by searching for minerals in the waste left by male miners outside the mines. Also, it was once an industry that demanded great physical strength, and so the idea persisted that women shouldn’t or couldn’t do it.

–And now, what real barriers do women face when working in mining?

–On one hand, patriarchal structures support a sexual division of labor in which women are expected to occupy roles in cleaning, administration, or as assistants or secretaries. So it was rare to see us in leadership positions, managing teams, or working as engineers, geologists, or chemists. Fortunately, this is becoming more common and we’ve been conquering more spaces. Many times women have to exceed the average just to land a position. We have to prove more credentials than men. There's a lack of trust that makes it harder to break the glass ceiling or even the 'glass walls' that prevent us from moving horizontally within organizations.

–There’s also the idea of the character and resilience needed to work in a mine.

–The strength or resilience to endure the distance from family, harsh weather, and hostile conditions is needed by both men and women. It's difficult for women to balance caregiving responsibilities with work cycles that take them away from home for one or two weeks. Women still haven’t relinquished the role of caring for children. It's on the agenda because the issue is not hiring women, the challenge is retaining them. Companies have made progress by offering childcare spaces, for example for mothers with young or nursing children. But it’s not so easy given the distances and the fact that industrial sites are not child-friendly environments. It’s no longer like before, when towns used to be built around the mines. Shorter work cycles or additional compensation for workers with dependents are being considered.

–How many women work in the mining industry today?

–In Argentina, around 12% of the mining industry workforce are women. It’s a small number, but much more than there was 10 or 20 years ago. Also, it's not far off from other countries with longer mining traditions and a slightly less entrenched machismo. There is a high percentage of women professionals in various positions ranging from middle management to leadership roles. The northern provinces of the country are leading in these statistics.

–What do women bring to the mining industry?

–Women bring a different perspective to every task and idea—not better or worse, just different. We have a particular ability to understand or encompass a broader range of topics. We pay special attention to sustainability issues and show greater respect for ecosystems and the culture of local communities. There are countless studies showing the economic benefits of incorporating a gender perspective into any development.

–What role do women play in lithium mining?

–Lithium is our best ambassador when it comes to women in mining. Many women are representing companies in executive and managerial roles and in industry organizations. As a result, topics that used to go completely unnoticed are now being addressed, which is a major benefit to the industry. We hope it creates a ripple effect across the entire mining sector.

–Why hasn’t the lithium boom taken off in Argentina?

–It’s mainly due to macroeconomic issues that hinder investment or reinvestment. Today, we have three companies in production after 20 years of industry development. Two of them have been operating for a while, and the third started this year. But there are more than 100 projects at different stages of development. In the next two years, as several projects come online, the supply of lithium to global markets will begin to increase. There’s an enormous opportunity. Argentina currently ranks fourth as a global lithium supplier and could climb even higher. It just depends on whether the country's macroeconomy supports it.

–This lithium demand often comes with requirements to meet certain environmental and social standards. How is the Argentine industry adapting to this?

–Mining companies don’t want any blemishes in their production chain because that could prevent them from selling lithium to the automotive industry or accessing international financing, which also requires strict environmental and social standards. For companies, it’s hard work—but necessary. At CAEM, we have a sustainable mining program adapted from a Canadian initiative. It’s a roadmap for companies to certify sustainability, and we also provide tools to help them achieve it. Specifically in lithium, automotive manufacturers of electric vehicles are imposing increasingly strict requirements. Argentina’s environmental regulations are very demanding, but companies also operate under international standards due to the requirements of parent companies and the global market.