Miguel Cardozo: proEXPLO 2026 Is a Hands-On School for New Generations in Mineral Exploration

Lima, February 9, 2026.- “proEXPLO 2026 is a hands-on school for new generations in mineral exploration and, at the same time, a barometer for the future of exploration in Peru and the region,” said Miguel Cardozo, Past President of the International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO), in an interview with the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers.

More Than a Technical Congress

With more than four decades of experience in mineral exploration and a career marked by landmark discoveries, Cardozo emphasized that the congress has consolidated its position as a unique space where high-level technical knowledge, intergenerational exchange, and a realistic vision of the trends shaping mineral exploration at both regional and global levels converge.

For the renowned geological engineer, proEXPLO is a key platform for decision-making in mineral exploration and plays a strategic role in understanding the present and anticipating the future of exploration in Peru and Latin America.

“It is the space where science, investment, and the operational reality of exploration converge. Over its different editions, the event has enabled discussion not only of advances in methods, models, and technology, but also of the factors that condition project success: social management, environment, permitting, innovation, and financing. This combination, together with the continuity of the event and the caliber of its speakers, has turned proEXPLO into a true barometer of the regional exploration cycle, reflecting trends, risk appetite, capital availability, and geological objectives,” he told the IIMP.

Setting the Agenda

Looking ahead to proEXPLO 2026, Cardozo identified three major themes that will shape learning for both young explorers and experienced professionals. The first is the genuine integration of disciplines, combining geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and satellite data, while avoiding fad-driven approaches.

“The second axis is deep exploration and exploration under cover, which is key for a country like Peru, where productive belts continue to offer potential at greater depths or in more subtle targets,” he noted.

He also highlighted the importance of discipline and team culture, recalling that major discoveries are born from clear hypotheses, persistence, high-quality data, and teams capable of questioning their own ideas.

In a global context shaped by the energy transition and rising social and environmental expectations, Dr. Cardozo stressed that proEXPLO plays a dual role. On the one hand, it is a platform for technical updating, where new tools such as artificial intelligence applied to geosciences, advanced sensors, 3D and 4D modeling, and early-stage geometallurgy are presented.

“But it is also a space for strategic reflection, where discussions focus on how to explore with a smaller environmental footprint, design more efficient campaigns, build social trust from the earliest stages, and respond with evidence to increasingly demanding environmental standards,” he explained.

Why Participate in proEXPLO?

For Cardozo, the value of proEXPLO also lies in its ability to connect people and knowledge. He noted that the exchange between world-class experts, companies, academics, and students accelerates discoveries through the transfer of real-world experience, including both successes and failures, and by linking multidisciplinary capabilities.

“Modern exploration requires integrating geosciences, data management, social aspects, and financing.  When these perspectives come together, better hypotheses and more robust projects emerge,” he said, adding that for students, proEXPLO is a true “hands-on school” of real-world exploration.

Finally, the engineer addressed those who may still be undecided about attending the event in May this year, stating that listening to experts, contrasting ideas, and understanding where global exploration is headed can mark a professional turning point.

“If you work in exploration, or want to, proEXPLO 2026 can save you years of trial and error (…) Many careers change because of a single conversation or a single talk. And for companies, it is a minimal investment compared to the value of having professionals who make better technical and strategic decisions,” he concluded.