The Hualilán project received its Environmental Impact Statement for production. Sonia Delgado, Director of Challenger Gold and Vice President of Golden Mining S.A., comments on this significant date for the venture located in the Ullum department, San Juan province.
• “This date represents a historic day, the most important milestone for Challenger Gold since we began working in Hualilán; today we announce the start of a new story. We have much work ahead; today marks the beginning of a much tougher journey; we are very satisfied and grateful to everyone.”
• “Hualilán is an non typical project; we started drilling at the end of 2019 with 5,000 meters, and the following year the pandemic hit, but we continued drilling because we were an essential activity. In 30 continuous months, we set a national record of 250,000 meters drilled, with over 800 diamond drill holes.”
• “I have nothing but satisfaction and pride in the company I am with, the team I have, the San Juan professionals who worked on the Environmental Impact Report, and the support from the Ullum community that has always been with us.”
• “The fact that the Environmental Impact Statement is out today does not mean that we will start construction tomorrow, or that we will generate jobs tomorrow; we work on the ground, with a constant presence in Ullum, informing that mining has stages.”
• “This continues and marks the beginning of another story, the start of sectorial permits, and then we will continue, and at some point, we will reach production... surely San Juan will have a new mine in production.”
The Hualilán deposit is located in the Ullum department, 120 km from the city of San Juan, with Golden Mining S.A. as the owner and operator of the project.
The Hualilán deposit contains zinc skarn mineralization with an overlay of gold and silver, making it a somewhat unique deposit style. The result will be a zinc concentrate with commercial values of gold and silver. The concentrate will be transported by truck to San Juan, from where it will be shipped, preferably by train to ports and marketed abroad.
Below is the press release published by Challenger Gold:
Historic Environmental Approval for the Hualilán Mining Project
Challenger Gold is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Hualilán Mining Project, through Resolution No. 688-MM-2024. This milestone marks a significant advancement in provincial mining development, combining economic growth with environmental protection and social benefit.
The Hualilán Project is located in the Ullum department, in the province of San Juan, and is operated by Golden Mining S.A.
The scope of the EIS encompasses 19 mining rights, including Mining Groups Hualilán No. 1 and No. 2, among others.
The environmental management of the project includes significant innovations, including an automated network for monitoring surface and groundwater, along with an early warning system to prevent environmental impacts. A re-vegetation plan covering 60% of the affected area will be implemented, along with specific programs for the protection of native flora and fauna.
Additionally, a comprehensive plan for the preservation of existing heritage has been designed, which includes the creation of an Interpretation Center and the protection of these sites.
Regarding social commitment, local labor hiring will be prioritized, with a special focus on San Juan residents. The project also includes a community development program and technical training for local students, encouraging the participation of local and regional suppliers.
Environmental supervision will be rigorous, adhering to 71 specific requirements established by the mining authority. The project will be continuously monitored by the Secretariat of Environmental Management and Mining Control, which will receive semiannual reports on compliance with environmental measures and biannual updates of the Environmental Impact Report.
Dr. Sonia Delgado, Director of Challenger Gold and Vice President of Golden Mining S.A., emphasizes that: “This approval sets a new standard in sustainable mining, combining economic development with environmental protection and social benefit for San Juan.”
