On-site Audit of Fenix Lithium Mine, 16-20 Nov 2026
SCS Global Services Seeks Input from Local Community and Other Stakeholders
Today, October 16, 2026, independent audit firm SCS Global Services announces that between November 16 and 20, 2026, it will visit Rio Tinto Lithium’s Fenix Mine in the Catamarca Province, Argentina, to conduct an independent, third-party Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) surveillance assessment of the operation. Fenix Mine extracts lithium.
The initial audit report of Fenix Lithium Mine was released on February 26, 2025, with an achievement level pending final assessment of Chapter 2.2, Free, Prior and Informed Consent. The report is available on the IRMA website: https://responsiblemining.net/audits/fenix/. A short-notice audit will finalize the assessment of Chapter 2.2, and a surveillance assessment will evaluate continued alignment with the performance documented in the initial audit report.
The on-site surveillance audit will verify that the site operations continue to align with the performance previously recognized in the initial audit report. The audit team will verify that the mine’s systems and controls are still in place and are functioning effectively, that no major changes have occurred that affect the mine’s performance, and that the site is progressing on its corrective action plan established following the previous audit. The audit will also include confidential interviews with workers and engagement with community stakeholders. Following the completion of the surveillance audit, a report will be published on the IRMA website.
The abbreviated surveillance audit report will provide Fenix Lithium Mine and stakeholders insight into continuity of operations, substantial changes, and evidence of continued improvement. A full reassessment audit will occur three years after the release of the initial audit report.
16-20 Nov 2026
Your comments will help SCS Global Services assess the impact of Fenix Lithium Mine on local communities and measure its performance against best mining practices. SCS Global Services invites you to sign up for an interview with auditors during the surveillance audit, and/or submit written comments about Fenix Lithium Mine using the contact details below.
Interviews can be held in Spanish and English. Interviews requested by November 11, 2026, can be conducted in-person or remotely. Interview requests made after November 11, 2026, can be in-person if time permits, and remotely if not. Feedback and written comments submitted before November 21, 2026, will be considered.
Email:
feedback@scsglobalservices.com
Telephone: +1 520 248 4276
(WhatsApp voice or text)
Web QR code:
Interviews with members of the community occur without mine personnel present. Interviews with non-management workers occur without management present and can be scheduled to occur offsite on request. SCS Global Services protects the identity of individual commenters although the general nature of comments will be summarized in the report.
For more information about:
- The Fenix Mine audit: https://responsiblemining.net/audits/fenix/
- IRMA-approved independent audit firm SCS Global Services: https://www.scsglobalservices.com/
- IRMA’s mission, Standard, assessment process, or other mine audits: responsiblemining.net
- Filing a complaint about the audit process: responsiblemining.net/complaints
