Andes Corporación Minera S.A., the company operating the Los Azules copper project, has been elected to the new Board of Directors of UN Global Compact Argentina for the 2026–2028 term. The appointment was confirmed at the organisation’s 10th National Assembly, held on 22 October in Buenos Aires, with more than 150 attendees.
By Panorama Minero
The company’s inclusion broadens the representation of the mining industry within a business cooperation platform dedicated to promoting sustainability practices, corporate responsibility and collaboration between different economic sectors.
The new Board of Directors will serve until October 2028 and will comprise representatives of large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, business associations, academic institutions and other stakeholder groups.
Mining Industry Participation in the Sustainability Agenda
The appointment is linked to the environmental, social and governance commitments that Andes Corporación Minera has established for the development of Los Azules, located in the Calingasta Department of San Juan Province.
The company promotes the adoption of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, covering human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption, alongside the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Michael Meding, General Manager of the Los Azules project, commented on the significance of the company’s institutional participation.
“Being part of the Board of Directors of UN Global Compact Argentina represents a major responsibility and, at the same time, a key opportunity to demonstrate that copper mining can lead the sustainable development agenda,” he stated.
The executive also highlighted the opportunity to establish relationships with representatives of other economic sectors to advance joint initiatives.
The United Nations Global Compact brings together more than 25,000 participating companies worldwide. In Argentina, the initiative involves more than 1,000 companies and organisations through dialogue, training and cooperation programmes aimed at incorporating sustainability criteria into their activities.
Los Azules and Its Development in San Juan
The Los Azules project, developed by McEwen Copper, has a Feasibility Study published in October 2025, outlining an initial investment of US$3.17 billion and a 22-year operating life.
According to the study, the operation is expected to produce an average of 148,200 tonnes of copper cathodes annually, increasing to an average of 204,800 tonnes during its first five years.
The project design incorporates heap leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW), enabling the production of high-purity copper cathodes directly at the mine site.
Among its environmental objectives, the company plans to use electricity from renewable sources, operate without tailings storage facilities and achieve carbon neutrality by 2038.
Los Azules has an approved Environmental Impact Declaration, has been admitted to the Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI), and has a collaboration agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) aimed at incorporating international sustainability standards.
The participation of Andes Corporación Minera on the Board of Directors of UN Global Compact Argentina therefore brings the perspective of a copper project under development into the organisation’s business dialogue and cooperation initiatives.
