For the first time, this celebration took place at the mine itself. The event also marked the 20th anniversary of the start of production at the site.
By Panorama Minero
This year, and for the first time, the official Mining Day celebration in the province of San Juan was held at the Veladero mine, located in the Iglesia department.
The event was led by Governor Marcelo Orrego, who traveled to the site where one of the most important mining operations in the country is carried out. On this occasion, the 20th anniversary of the mine’s start of production was also celebrated.
The governor was accompanied by members of his cabinet, the Executive Director of Barrick for South America, Marcelo Álvarez; representatives of mining chambers; and mayors from mining-influenced regions.
During the event held at the mine, Governor Marcelo Orrego said: "Veladero celebrates 20 years of uninterrupted activity and is a symbol of productive transformation in San Juan. Today, with more than 3,700 workers —91% of whom are from San Juan— and 290 local companies, it reaffirms its commitment to the present and to the development of the communities of Jáchal and Iglesia. This mine demonstrates that mining with development, innovation, environmental care, and social responsibility is possible."
He added: "Today I want to pay tribute to all mining workers —those here at this camp, those who face extreme conditions every day, and also those across the province who make it possible for mining in San Juan to continue growing responsibly. Happy Mining Day to all.
In this context, Barrick’s Executive Director for South America, Marcelo Álvarez, highlighted that Veladero is celebrating 20 years of production, having exported US$16 billion over the past two decades. He emphasized that 85% of that value remained in Argentina, through wages, taxes, and payments to suppliers. He also pointed out the historic increase in the number of women working at Veladero —from 5% in 2020 to 15% today. Additionally, he mentioned the new RIGI (Large Investment Incentive Regime) being applied at Veladero for new mine expansion projects.
The Tour
The governor’s visit to the Veladero mine included a tour at 4,500 meters above sea level, where there is a viewpoint from which the entire mining operation can be observed. A work site was also visited, where a loader and trucks demonstrated how the mining operation is carried out. At that point, there was an encounter with female operators who drive off-road trucks, who shared their experiences, accompanied by a brief explanation from the workers.
The next stop on the visit was the truck workshop, where a special event took place: an Argentine flag was made, and the national anthem was sung in honor of Mining Industry Day. Finally, the tour ended at the Amarillo camp, where the workers sleep, stay, and where the hospital is located.
