PSJ Cobre Mendocino continues to advance technically through the feasibility stage of its copper project located in Uspallata, combining the formation of specialized teams, geological infill campaigns and now a workforce survey aimed at assessing local labor supply. The initiative is part of an approximately 12-month period of technical, economic and detailed engineering studies launched after the Mendoza Legislature approved the project’s Environmental Impact Declaration.
By Panorama Minero
Within this framework, the company has launched a registry of professions and trades targeting residents of Uspallata and the Las Heras Department, considered the project’s first ring of influence. While the initiative does not imply any hiring commitment, it represents a concrete step in structuring the project’s labor component and organizing the local workforce supply ahead of future technical phases.
Priority is being given to Uspallata as the direct area of influence, followed by Las Heras, with applicants required to demonstrate at least six months of residency. The registration form requests basic personal information, proof of residence, documented educational credentials where applicable, verifiable work experience, driving history and a résumé. If the applicant’s address is not reflected on the national ID, supplementary documentation such as utility bills or lease agreements is required.
At this stage, the company is surveying profiles including drill controllers, drill operators, private drivers, passenger transport drivers, 4x4 drivers, truck drivers, crane truck operators, heavy machinery operators, Health and Safety technicians, general construction and maintenance assistants, master builders, bricklayers, assistant bricklayers, formwork specialists and metalworkers.
The company clarified that completing the form does not constitute a hiring commitment nor generate any obligation. However, such surveys typically serve as the initial database for future recruitment should the project advance toward construction.
Feasibility, Technical Teams and Infill Drilling
The workforce survey is part of a broader technical consolidation process. The company has assembled multidisciplinary teams exceeding 300 professionals, including in-house specialists, consulting firms and partner companies, working across various analytical fronts.
In parallel, infill drilling campaigns have been activated to densify geological data in defined sectors of the deposit. These activities enhance the confidence level of the resource model and allow adjustments to design and planning parameters before progressing to advanced engineering and financial structuring.
Employment as a Strategic Variable
The combination of consolidated technical teams, additional geological work and now a structured workforce survey signals a clear development: employment is becoming an integral component of the project’s operational roadmap.
In comparable copper developments, the transition from feasibility to construction typically entails a significant increase in direct labor demand, with multiplier effects across transportation, metalworking and civil works. Should PSJ reach that stage, having a previously systematized labor database within the area of influence could reduce hiring timelines and increase local participation.
PSJ is thus entering a critical phase, where technical studies, engineering and workforce organization are advancing simultaneously, while the project approaches strategic decisions related to investment and financing that will define its next stage within Mendoza’s copper landscape.
