Twelve Advanced Chemical Engineering Students from UNJu Will Travel to China for Training at Tsingshan's Facilities
By Panorama Minero
In a ceremony attended by a large number of students, faculty, university authorities, provincial officials, and representatives from the productive sector, twelve advanced Chemical Engineering students from the National University of Jujuy (UNJu) were officially presented. They will travel to China for training at Tsingshan's facilities as part of an ambitious technical-professional development program.
The event, held at the auditorium of the Faculty of Engineering, also served to announce new progress in the mining-industrial project that Tsingshan is developing in the province. According to Santiago Bustelo, Senior Manager of Tsingshan in Argentina, the company is in an advanced stage of civil construction at its plant located in El Perico Industrial Park, where around 800 people are currently working. “We expect to be operational by the end of the year,” he noted.
This trip is part of a comprehensive training strategy aimed at preparing future Argentine professionals in key technological and industrial processes related to mining. The selected students —Romina Benítez, Pablo Pérez, Belén González, Rafael Siles, Cintia Fernández, Fabiana Pérez, Rebeca Sánchez, Cecilia Pereyra, Gastón Cruz, Josefina Cholele, Perla Romero, and Gisela Tolaba— were chosen from among 40 applicants following a rigorous selection process involving interviews and a month-long training program coordinated with UNJu.
During his speech, Governor Carlos Sadir emphasized the importance of this initiative. “Taking this trip means strengthening academic training and, above all, gaining international experience with one of the world’s leading companies.” He also encouraged other companies to follow this example: “We want more companies to imitate this commitment to investing in knowledge, human development, and local growth.”
John Li, President of Tsingshan Mining Development S.A., highlighted the company’s commitment to local education. “This is just the beginning of our collaboration with the National University of Jujuy. We hope Tsingshan can become a learning hub not only for them but also for other educational institutions in the future.”
According to Alejandro Vargas, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, this type of agreement allows future engineers to engage in real work environments and cutting-edge technology: “This is an achievement that comes from months of coordination and joint effort. We’ve been strengthening ties with the productive sector to ensure our graduates are prepared to meet global challenges.”
It was also reported that, as construction progresses, Tsingshan will begin hiring new technical staff and skilled operators, including engineers from other fields such as electronics, industrial engineering, and computer science. This expansion represents a significant opportunity for local economic and professional development.
It is worth recalling that the Chinese company, recognized globally, announced a US$$120 million investment in Jujuy to manufacture hydrochloric acid and lithium hydroxide, both essential for the lithium projects being developed in the region. For this purpose, they established themselves in the Perico Industrial Park, where their plant is currently under construction. Upon arriving in Jujuy in 2023, Bustelo had already announced the intention to produce these inputs: 100,000 tons of hydrochloric acid and 30,000 tons of sodium hydroxide, initially to supply their own companies, with future plans to expand within the Industrial Park.
