The ambitious mining project located in San Juan, key to Argentina’s future copper supply, welcomed representatives from the European Union and the automotive sector.
By Panorama Minero
The Los Azules copper project, located in the province of San Juan, recently hosted a visit from prominent national and international figures, including the European Union’s Ambassador to Argentina, Amador Sánchez Rico, and the General Director of Stellantis Group in Argentina, Rodrigo Pérez Graciano. The purpose of the visit was to observe the progress of this project, which is poised to play a critical role in the shift toward clean energy.
San Juan’s Minister of Mining, Juan Pablo Perea, and the Secretary of Environmental Management and Mining Control, Roberto Moreno, also welcomed the delegation. Other notable attendees included Ilse Monique Alberta Cougé, Head of Cooperation for the European Union, EU advisor Juan Eduardo Barrera, and Michael Meding, Vice President of McEwen Copper and General Manager of Los Azules.
Los Azules: Committed to Sustainability
During the tour, the visitors explored areas of high mineralization and the site designated for the leach pad, where they received detailed information about the project’s planning and production potential. One of the highlights was Los Azules' commitment to sustainable practices: it is projected to be the first project in Argentina to produce copper cathodes, with a reduced water footprint and a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038.
Strategic Alliances for Regional Development
The visit underscored the importance of building strategic alliances between the public sector, the automotive industry, and international partners to promote economic development in Argentina and Latin America. Both European and automotive sector representatives expressed interest in the project’s potential impact not only on the local economy but also on the copper supply—an essential material for electric vehicle manufacturing and other sustainable technologies.
“These collaborations strengthen Argentina’s position on the global sustainable mining map and demonstrate the value of projects like Los Azules for the provincial and national economy,” the Ministry of Mining of San Juan stated in a release.
