The province currently has 60 metals and energy-mineral projects at different stages of development. Joaquín Aberastain Oro, Río Negro’s Secretary of Mining, discusses the transformation of the province’s mining sector, the progress at Calcatreu, the potential of the Línea Sur region and the development of iron, uranium and vanadium projects.
The agreement signed by Javier Milei, Diego Santilli and Raúl Jalil enables the creation of a mixed industrial and commercial Free Trade Zone along the Bi-Oceanic Corridor, connected with Chile through the San Francisco Pass. The initiative seeks to attract investment, reduce costs and strengthen value chains linked, among other activities, to mining.
An INDEC report recorded accumulated exports of US$392 million, representing year-on-year growth of 119.6% for the province. Chemicals and precious metals lead the export basket. Catamarca outpaces the NOA regional average of 68.2% and emerges as the third-largest exporting province in the region.
Diablillos is advancing through its feasibility stage and plans to begin construction in May 2027, with production scheduled for late 2029. The project is expected to generate 1,400 construction jobs and 600 permanent positions.
The commission, launched on September 2, met again on September 14 and established its work agenda for the coming months.
During 2025, it worked with 580 suppliers in Argentina, 60% of them from San Juan, and allocated US$1.94 million to social investment.