More than 4,000 hectares have been destroyed by fires in Argentina’s northern province of Jujuy; it was officially announced on Friday.
According to the National Fire Protection Service (SNMF), part of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, 50 fire brigades and two hydrant aircraft are operating in the area.
The forest fires were recorded in the locality of Yuto, near Calilegua National Park, located more than 1,500 kilometers from Buenos Aires and managed by the National Park Service.
It was established in 1989 and covered an area of more than 76,000 hectares, belonging to the Selva de las Yungas (Mountain Jungle) ecoregion.
The director of the Jujuy Vegetation Fires, Alejandro Cooke, told local press this Friday that there have been “scorching, high-speed winds” in recent hours.
“This led to the quadrupling of the affected area. To date, we have burned 4,000 hectares,” he said.
He also emphasized that the fire is spreading parallel to both sides of National Road 34 and has not yet affected any residence.
“All ministries are working together and providing the necessary elements for the new brigades and crews that will be arriving,” Cooke said.
This Friday, the director of SNMF, Alberto Seufferheld, met in Jujuy with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Jujuy, María Inés Zigarán.
The official warned that “the weather situation is not the best” to put out the fires in Yuto, located 161 kilometers northeast of the provincial capital of San Salvador de Jujuy.
LITHIUM REGION
Today, Argentina is the fourth largest producer of lithium in the world and the second country in lithium reserves worldwide. They have 12 projects that will make Argentina the world’s leading lithium producer, producing more than 300 thousand tons of LCE (lithium carbonate).
Lithium is Argentina’s financial future. Among the most important lithium projects referred to by the executive, in various stages of development, are the Jujuy and Fenix Salts (in expansion), Olaroz, Olaroz Nightingale, Centenary-Mouse, Corner Salt, Life Salt, Three Valleys, Pastures of large and Golden Salt.
The provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca are the ones with these projects that exceed investments of more than 5 billion US dollars in the short term.
Perhaps the fires in this region should also be seen from this point of view.
