The Second Mendoza Sustainable Mining Summit 2026 will bring together national and provincial authorities, mining executives, investors, international specialists and public- and private-sector representatives on November 19–20 to examine opportunities for Argentina’s mining development and its integration into global markets.
The event will feature Mendoza Governor Alfredo Cornejo; Minister of Energy and Environment Jimena Latorre; and officials from Jujuy, Salta, San Juan and Catamarca, the provinces that, together with Mendoza, make up Argentina’s Copper Roundtable (Mesa del Cobre). Diego Santilli, listed in the event program as Argentina’s Chief of Cabinet of Ministers, is also scheduled to participate in the opening session.
The Summit will have a strong international presence, including representatives from Canada and Chile, mining exploration and investment specialists, executives from companies such as BHP and Teck Resources, and representatives of global financial institutions, including Citi and UBS Investment Bank.
Participants will include Chilean Ambassador to Argentina Gonzalo Uriarte Herrera, Canadian Ambassador Stewart Ross Wheeler, and Canadian mining specialists Neil Adshead, Nicole Adshead-Bell and Joe Mazumdar.
This second edition builds on the 2024 Summit, when Mendoza hosted international mining and financial leaders and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), one of the world’s leading capital markets for mining project financing, opened trading from the province.
The agenda will focus on three major themes: Institutions and Governance, Environment and Society, and Economics and Finance. Through panel discussions, conferences, workshops and industry meetings, participants will examine strategies to attract investment, expand exploration, strengthen local suppliers and promote sustainable mining.
Five Provinces Join Forces to Advance Copper Development
One of the first day’s highlights will be the Copper Roundtable panel, organized in collaboration with AmCham Argentina, bringing together provincial leaders Alfredo Cornejo, Carlos Sadir, Gustavo Sáenz, Marcelo Orrego and Raúl Jalil.
The discussion will focus on institutional frameworks and governance as essential tools for strengthening mining development, attracting investment and establishing a shared agenda among Argentina’s copper-producing and copper-potential provinces.
The program will also feature the panel “Mining Argentina: The Provinces’ Perspective,” with Minister Jimena Latorre and provincial mining officials José Gómez of Jujuy, José Ignacio Lupión of Salta, Juan Pablo Perea of San Juan and Teresita Regalado of Catamarca.
A new meeting of the Federal Mining Roundtable will also take place, providing a platform for coordination between public- and private-sector representatives.
Investment, Exploration and International Capital Markets
Mining finance will be a central focus of the Summit, with international experts representing investment funds, capital markets and major mining companies.
Confirmed speakers include Neil Adshead, Nicole Adshead-Bell and Joe Mazumdar, who will participate in an international panel on exploration investment strategies, moderated by Sebastián Piña, CEO of Impulsa Mendoza.
The agenda will also feature the conference “Copper Looking to the Future: A Latin American Perspective,” with representatives from BHP, along with a workshop examining the international copper market and the risks of future supply shortages.
Another session will explore the global banking sector’s perspective on mining finance, featuring representatives from Citi and UBS Investment Bank.
These discussions will examine what makes mining projects attractive to investors, strategies for accessing capital and the importance of maintaining exploration programs to expand the supply of critical minerals.
Mendoza and Chile: Strengthening Regional Mining Integration
Cooperation with Chile will have a dedicated session during the Summit’s first day, focusing on strengthening both territories’ capabilities as an integrated mining region.
Participants will include representatives from the Center for Copper and Mining Studies (CESCO), the Association of Industrial Mining Suppliers (APRIMIN), the Industrial and Mining Training Center (CEIM), and business organizations.
The ambassadors of Chile and Canada to Argentina, Gonzalo Uriarte Herrera and Stewart Ross Wheeler, will also participate in a discussion on Mendoza’s future role in the global mining industry.
The exchange will explore opportunities for productive integration, workforce development, supplier networks and international cooperation.
Environmental Sustainability, Transparency and Mining Regulations
The second day will place particular emphasis on environmental management, regulatory frameworks and sustainability.
One of the scheduled sessions, “Mining Code and RIGI: The Legal Framework for Argentina’s New Mining Projects,” will feature Mendoza’s Director of Mining, Jerónimo Shantal, alongside national authorities and legal specialists.
Other discussions will address transparency in extractive industries through EITI Argentina, environmental regulatory challenges and sustainability across the mining value chain.
The program will also include a debate with national lawmakers on mining regulations from a federal perspective, as well as a panel featuring representatives of major global critical mineral producers.
Mendoza Arrives at the Summit with Progress in Exploration and Financing
The second edition comes at a time of significant transformation for Mendoza’s mining industry.
Since the inaugural Summit in 2024, Mendoza has advanced Malargüe Western Mining District (Malargüe Distrito Minero Occidental), an initiative designed to expand mineral exploration in the province’s southern region, and launched Mendoza Northern Mining District (Mendoza Norte Distrito Minero), a new initiative to organize and assess areas with geological potential.
The province has also introduced tools to connect mining projects with investors and capital markets, including The Andean Bridge and the Mining Financial Hub, designed to facilitate access to financing at different stages of project development.
Another major development is PSJ Cobre Mendocino, a copper project located in Uspallata that has received approval under Argentina’s Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) and represents a total planned investment of USD 891 million.
Workforce training, local supplier development and partnerships with universities and scientific institutions are also central to Mendoza’s strategy for supporting the industry’s growth.
With an agenda combining governance, environmental sustainability, investment and international cooperation, the Second Mendoza Sustainable Mining Summit 2026 aims to strengthen dialogue among the institutions, investors, companies and decision-makers shaping the future of Argentina’s mining industry.
View the full Summit agenda here: https://cumbredemineriamendoza.com.ar/en/agenda-de-actividades-canva/