BUENOS AIRES, March 15 (Reuters) - Global lithium mining

firm Arcadium Lithium Plc ( ARLTF ) said on Friday that its

operations in the northern Argentina region of Catamarca would

not be impacted by a ruling by a provincial court blocking the

issuance of new permits.

The ruling, which came after a petition by local indigenous

communities, temporarily halts the issuance of new permits and

authorizations in a lithium rich basin in Catamarca, where

Arcadium operates, until the local government carries out

environmental impact studies.

"The court ruling does not impact Arcadium Lithium's ( ARLTF )

existing mining operations and expansion activities at its Fenix

and Sal de Vida projects," the firm said in a statement.

"All of the company's existing permits and Environmental

Impact Assessments (EIAs) remain valid."

Arcadium already produces lithium from brine at the Salar

del Hombre Muerto and the firm has expansion plans underway.

The case underscores wider tensions between companies and

local communities over water use and the environmental impact of

extracting ultra-light battery metal lithium, which is key for

the electric vehicle revolution.

Argentina, inside South America's so-called "lithium

triangle", is one of the world's top producers of the metal with

a strong pipeline of regional projects under development.