As part of Argentina’s National Mining Day celebrations — commemorating the country’s first Mining Promotion Law enacted by the Assembly of Year XIII in 1813 — the Government of Mendoza announced the opening of a permanent Impulsa Mendoza office in the department of Malargüe. The initiative aims to strengthen ties with the local community, provide transparent information about mining activity and help prepare the region in terms of employment, supplier development and workforce training.
The event was attended by Vice Governor Hebe Casado; Director of Mining Jerónimo Shantal; Director of Environmental Management and Oversight Leonardo Fernández; Malargüe Mayor Celso Jaque; and Impulsa Mendoza CEO Sebastián Piña.
“We have been working intensively with all stakeholders to make mining a reality,” said Vice Governor Hebe Casado. “Mining is a long-term process; it does not happen overnight. That is why we must continue taking all the necessary steps so that the exploration projects currently advancing in the department can keep generating positive results for Malargüe and Mendoza”.
Jerónimo Shantal highlighted the historical significance of the date and its connection to the region. “It has been 213 years since the Assembly of Year XIII, remembered not only for abolishing slavery but also for establishing the first mining promotion legislation in Argentina. There is no better place to celebrate this than Malargüe, home to the Gral. Manuel N. Savio technical school, which for more than 50 years has trained mining technicians who now work across Argentina and internationally”.
Shantal also outlined the current growth of the mining sector in the department. “We have been strongly focused on regulatory modernization and accelerating concession and registration processes. Today, Malargüe has 67 third-category mines, 21 processing plants, 9 storage and supply facilities, 65 exploration permits approved by law and 71 additional projects under evaluation, along with many others expected to continue advancing”.
Mayor Celso Jaque emphasized the strategic importance of mining for the future of the department. “Mining has been important in our past, our present and, above all, our future. We are working together with a shared vision so that Malargüe can progressively experience the benefits of this activity”.
Impulsa Mendoza Expands Its Presence in Southern Mendoza
Impulsa Mendoza CEO Sebastián Piña explained that the new office will play a key role in strengthening communication with the community and supporting the region’s economic preparation for mining growth.
“In the coming months, we will open an office here in Malargüe that will allow us to engage more directly with society, clearly explain the current state of mining activity and help prepare the region in terms of employment, supplier development and training. We also want to reinforce the understanding that mining risks can be managed responsibly and that the industry can develop safely with the participation of all sectors,” Piña said.
“From Impulsa Mendoza, our role is to accelerate the mining development process,” he added.
Piña also noted that Malargüe has the potential to consolidate itself as a true mining city. “Beyond strategic spaces such as the Pata Mora logistics hub, Malargüe has educational institutions, private sector representatives, government agencies and a productive ecosystem capable of offering major advantages for the development of large-scale mining”.
Leonardo Fernández stressed the province’s focus on transparency and citizen participation in environmental oversight processes. “This activity is not only supervised by the Government of Mendoza, but also by multiple institutions actively involved in monitoring and control. Concepts that were once discussed only in workshops and public hearings — such as citizen participation and participatory monitoring — are now a reality”.
“We are strongly committed to citizen participation through workshops related not only to mining but also to oil and gas activity and the non-conventional energy projects expected in the short term,” Fernández added.
A Full Day of Activities Focused on Mining Development
The Mining Day agenda began with a working meeting at the Municipality of Malargüe, where authorities confirmed the opening of the permanent Impulsa Mendoza office and reviewed the current state and future growth prospects of mining activity in southern Mendoza. Discussions also addressed local supplier development, workforce training, employment generation and strengthening the productive ecosystem linked to mining and energy growth.
Authorities later held a working lunch with members of the Malargüe Chamber of Commerce, business leaders and local stakeholders, where they discussed investment opportunities, regional development challenges and the importance of strengthening technical education and competitiveness among local companies as mining activity continues to expand.
The day concluded with participation in the III Malargüe Western Mining District Conference at School No. 4-018 “Gral. Manuel N. Savio”, an iconic institution recognized for its historic role in training mining technicians in Mendoza. Officials toured activities organized for National Mining Day and highlighted the importance of technical education, workforce training and professional development in supporting sustainable mining growth across the province.