The Feasibility Study projects average annual output of 148,000 tonnes over 22 years, with a $5.4 billion NPV and 27.8% after-tax IRR at the study's $5.45/lb sensitivity price — making Los Azules the first copper project in Argentina under RIGI
With Veladero and Diablillos, the sector now accounts for six of the 12 projects approved under the regime. The pending pipeline — led by Glencore with $13.5 billion in copper projects — suggests that share will grow even further.
The company is already executing the second phase of its drilling program, focusing on the western sector of the target, where even stronger chargeability anomalies have been detected than those previously drilled.
The project combining Josemaría and Filo del Sol has defined its logistics route through Chilean ports and structured an international credit line for the initial phase. The plan includes three development stages, a 70-year lifespan, and an average annual copper production of 400,000 tons, generating fiscal and employment impacts for both Argentina and Chile.
This technical study, integrating for the first time the Josemaría deposit in San Juan, Argentina, and Filo del Sol on the Argentina-Chile border, not only confirms the viability of a world-class binational district but also projects $18 billion in investment over the project’s life.
The study provides, for the first time, a unified technical view of the Josemaría deposit in San Juan, Argentina, and the Filo del Sol deposit on the Argentina-Chile border, positioning the project as one of the world’s most significant copper, gold, and silver developments.
Argentina accelerated its geopolitical energy and mining agenda this week, signing a U.S. partnership on critical minerals and a complementary deal with Abu Dhabi and Italy’s state energy company. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno defended the Washington agreements at the Munich Security Conference.
With Project Vault, the Trump administration is launching a $12 billion megaproject to create a strategic reserve of critical minerals—key to the transition to electric vehicles, batteries and semiconductors—in a bid to reduce reliance on China and strengthen supply chains.
The ministerial meeting, which brought together delegations from 55 countries plus the European Union, focused on strategies to counter China’s dominance in critical minerals processing, seen as a challenge for the energy transition, the technology sector, defense, and artificial intelligence.
The company expects to complete its Basin Water Balance report by the end of the first quarter, after which it plans to move forward with the pre-feasibility study, targeted for completion before year-end.
La Rioja signs tripartite agreement with American Minerals, EMSE to explore critical minerals, rare earths and attract foreign investment.
The strategy advanced by the Trump administration to intervene in critical minerals markets aims to curb Chinese dumping through price floors, secure strategic supply and strengthen production in the United States and allied countries.
The Trump administration is betting on a strategic reserve of critical minerals to counter China’s dominance, shield its supply chain and reshape the global balance of key resources for the energy transition and defense.
