In an interview with Forbes, James Hedalen said that the mining strategy led by the Government of Mendoza —along with the creation of the Malargüe Western Mining District by Impulsa Mendoza— was the catalyst that pushed the company to move forward with its copper project, which will involve an initial investment of USD 10 million.
Hedalen, CEO of the Canadian firm Kobrea, explained why the company chose to bet on Mendoza, a province that continues to gain visibility on the global map as one of the most promising regions for mining projects linked to the energy transition.
He highlighted a key point: “What Governor Alfredo Cornejo has done for mining, and the creation of the Malargüe District by Impulsa Mendoza, were decisive factors in moving ahead with this investment.” He emphasized that the province’s institutional groundwork and regulatory clarity created the right conditions to kick off the process.
Just over a year after receiving authorization to explore in the southern part of the province, the first private investment stemming from this new framework is already underway. The Canadian company has launched phase one of its El Perdido project in Malargüe, opening the access road and installing the camp from which drilling will begin.
Hedalen noted that Kobrea had assessed various South American jurisdictions over the past four years, but that around 18 months ago the company decided to focus on Argentina—and specifically on Mendoza.
He stated that the province “combines exceptional geological potential with a predictable, modern institutional environment aligned with international mining development standards”.
With a 730-km² concession for exploration, Kobrea currently has an initial fund of USD 10 million to finance the first drilling campaigns planned for 2025 and 2026.
The CEO explained that the project includes between 10 and 12 geological targets that could host world-class copper porphyries, each requiring between USD 5 million and 20 million in systematic testing.
He stressed that confirming a deposit can take one to two years per target, while the process from discovery to an operating mine is, by nature, longer and more complex.
However, he underscored that the limited exploration on the Mendoza side of the Andes—compared with the intense mining activity across the border in Chile, home to some of the world’s largest copper mines—creates a “unique opportunity” for a meaningful discovery.
Kobrea, he added, is currently concentrating its efforts entirely on Mendoza, to the point that its CEO described the province as “the best geological opportunity” in the company’s exploration portfolio.
The progress of this project marks a milestone for the Malargüe District, created by Impulsa Mendoza as a tool to structure mining activity, attract investment, strengthen local development, and promote the exploration of strategic minerals.
The arrival of this first private drilling program in more than a decade reinforces the impact of provincial public policies and opens the door to new opportunities for modern mining in Mendoza.
