Argentina’s state-owned mining company Yacimientos Mineros Agua de Dionisio (YMAD) is seeking private investment to advance exploration at the Peirano Block in Catamarca Province. The initiative forms part of the company’s strategy to identify new mineral resources and open a fresh stage of growth after the end of mining at Bajo de la Alumbrera.
By Panorama Minero
YMAD President Fernando Jalil said the company is holding advanced discussions with potential investors and expects a new exploration campaign to begin during the second half of the year.
According to Jalil, the initiative is not related to the reprocessing of mining waste from Bajo de la Alumbrera. Instead, it is focused on expanding geological knowledge across the Peirano Block, one of the exploration assets within YMAD’s property portfolio.
In that regard, he said that “YMAD’s future lies in exploring the entire block and creating new opportunities for the province.”
Peirano at the Centre of YMAD’s Next Exploration Stage
The search for new mineral resources is one of YMAD’s main challenges over the coming years as the company seeks to move beyond Alumbrera and rebuild its project pipeline.
Within that strategy, the Peirano Block is emerging as a priority asset. YMAD aims to attract capital to deepen exploration, improve its understanding of the area’s geology and assess whether the block can support future mining developments in Catamarca.
YMAD’s Role in the MARA Project
Jalil also referred to MARA, the large-scale copper-gold project being advanced in Catamarca and considered one of Argentina’s most significant undeveloped mining assets.
YMAD is not part of the company developing MARA, but it is expected to participate through the lease of infrastructure that would be used in mineral processing.
Jalil described MARA as a key opportunity for the province and said that “the icing on the cake has to be MARA.” He added that 2027 and 2028 could bring significant progress and job creation linked to infrastructure works.
The start of those works could provide a major boost to regional activity, particularly during the construction and infrastructure development stages.
Investment in Local Communities
The YMAD President also highlighted several community investment initiatives currently under way across Catamarca.
These include contributions to the construction of a new hospital in Belén, housing works in Los Nacimientos, infrastructure projects in Andalgalá and Belén, and a recycling programme developed jointly with the municipality of Hualfín.
Jalil said the objective is to ensure that “Catamarca’s resources directly reach local communities and municipalities.”
He added that strengthening YMAD’s institutional capacity would allow the company to expand these programmes and reinforce its role in the management and development of the province’s mineral resources.
