Peru elaborates regulatory framework with USAID's supportUnited States Agency USAID has been present in Peru for several years providing various forms of "foreign assitance" and it seems that this time it's also assisting Peru government with the (uranium export/import) legal framework, which, as many analysts do, Reuters is mistekenly considering as required for lithium exploitation.
That "we have a first advance" might mean that we will have to wait at least 6 months to have the regulation approved. Why aren't they in a hurry? I think Ismodes says "Why hurry if the company is still in exploration stage? What is important is our compromise with the development of the required legal framework". Good news is that in the minister's own words the regulation "does not necessarily has to go through the Congress", so it's possible PLU can avoid an excessive exposure in Peru.
https://lta.reuters.com/articulo/mineria-peru-litio-idLTAKCN1S82E3 Peru elaborates regulatory framework to exploit lithium with support from US agency
LIMA, May 2 (Reuters) - Peru is drawing up a regulatory framework for lithium mining with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the government said on Thursday, in an effort to move forward an important deposit in the south of the country.
The minister of Energy and Mines, Francisco Ismodes, affirmed that the norm "does not necessarily" have to go through the unicameral Congress that has as a majority of opposition parties.
"We have a first advance of regulatory framework. We hope to have something more concrete soon but we are already working with the IPEN (Peruvian Institute of Nuclear Energy) and USAID", said Ismodes, in a conference with the foreign press.
(...) Minister smodes said that they are working with USAID because the agency has held talks with the IPEN; and the government of President Martin Vizcarra has seen good progress with them because there is a cooperation agreement that applies.
"It is an initial guideline that is defined and on this guideline we will work in detail", said the minister. (...)