Casposo Mine: The Government of San Juan grants the EIA of the Update of the IIA

With the activation of the UGA for PSJ Cobre Mendocino, the province adds its second environmental management unit—and the first for an exploitation project—in a key step toward unlocking mining activity after two decades of stagnation.

This initiative is moving forward in coordination with the National University of Catamarca (UNCA), within the framework of the transfer process and the new restructuring of Yacimientos Mineros de Agua de Dionisio (YMAD), a step that will grant the province majority control over the management of the state-owned mining company, together with the National University of Tucumán (UNT).

With projects beginning to move forward, the sector’s main constraint is no longer regulatory or geological, but rather the logistical capacity needed to sustain exploration.

While other jurisdictions negotiate with the federal government, Mendoza supports the bill that strengthens the provincial role in identifying protected areas and seeks to provide predictability for mining investment.

It signed an agreement with Distrocuyo to begin studies that will allow the construction of a new 220 kV transmission line and a transformer station in the high mountains of Mendoza. In this way, they aim to organize the project’s engineering and reduce uncertainty in an operation with high energy demand.

The start of drilling will be postponed a few weeks due to logistical reasons, in parallel with the activation of El Destino, Sofi, and Cuprum following environmental and legislative approvals.