What are your expectations for this 12th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2021)?

2019 has been a very challenging year for exploration, especially for greenfields; however, the goals for brownfields have been somewhat achieved; in that sense, our expectations for proEXPLO 2021, to be held 100% virtually, is that we will have the opportunity to access conferences, booths and core shacks of different mining operations, exploration projects, as well as new technologies in geological prospecting.

The 12th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers - proEXPLO 2021 will start this Monday 22nd. What are the key messages that will be developed in this new edition?

The 12th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers - proEXPLO 2021, which I am honored to chair, has set 4 key messages.

The first key message is embodied in the Congress theme: "Mineral resources for a sustainable future". With this, we seek to continue strengthening the links between academia, industry and mining investors, so that new deposits can be found in the future to provide minerals for a cleaner environment.

The second message is to highlight innovation in exploration through talks that will promote discussion on new technological tools applicable to exploration.

The other two key messages put forward by the Organizing Committee are to bring to light the success stories in mineral exploration and to disseminate strategies on the optimal transition from exploration to mine. On this last point, we want participants to learn more about the engineering processes that turn discoveries into profitable mining operations.

This year's proEXPLO Congress will be held virtually because priority is being given to people's health. What challenges have you met?

Indeed, in order to protect the health of participants due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the 12th Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2021) will be 100% virtual.

As soon as this decision was taken, each member of the Organizing Committee took on the challenge of implementing a series of proposals to satisfy future participants.

As a result, a program has been put together that will offer talks and sessions during the 5 days of congress.

It is worth mentioning that the number of professionals registered is steadily increasing, with 44 countries registered, and we believe that we will reach a wider audience.

In many of the talks of "Road to proEXPLO 2021", the importance of exploration for the future of the mining sector has been highlighted; however, there is no news on the development of new exploration projects or a project that will already become a mine. What do you foresee happening with Peruvian mining in the next 2 and 5 years?

The International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers was created following the same model as the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) for this part of the world and since its first edition it has focused on highlighting the importance of exploration, geology and prospecting; in addition, proEXPLO seeks to reflect the present and future of Peruvian, Latin American and world mining.

In this regard, it is noteworthy that the mining portfolio includes 53 prospects or projects that are awaiting authorization to be explored; and although the authorities have a proactive attitude to expedite these projects, the social situation, the pandemic crisis and the political climate further complicate the future of these projects.

Likewise, we have to remember that out of 1,000 evaluated prospects, 100 are evaluated through drilling, 10 move on to resource definition, 3 reach pre-feasibility and only 1 becomes a mine; therefore, it is urgent to spread more information about this activity, which is key for the future of mining.

If we do not find more resources and we do not replenish mining reserves, we run the risk of ceasing to produce; therefore, we will stop receiving economic resources through taxes, canon and royalties.

For all these reasons, it is urgent to disseminate more about mining exploration, and proEXPLO 2021 gives us that opportunity.

The IIMP, organizer of proEXPLO 2021, is a standard-bearer in promoting the participation of young mining engineers, metallurgists and geologists in mining companies. What is your position regarding young professionals?

Just as we need to find more resources and mining reserves to continue guaranteeing mining production, in the labor and professional field we also need new professionals, and young people are the ones called to fulfill this mission.

In this sense, it is essential for university students to receive a quality education that will allow them to exploit their knowledge and abilities to the maximum when they have the opportunity to be part of a mining company.

A detail that we must not forget is the importance of foreign language and the use of technology.

The role of women in mining exploration is a topic of interest for the participants of proEXPLO 2021. What can you tell us about this round table? What will be its objective?

Women have been contributing to the mining industry and the exploration industry for many years. I believe I am not wrong when I say that the myth that women cannot enter the mine has almost been eradicated. Furthermore, there are women working in almost all areas of the mining industry; they are also working in environmental areas, community relations, in the process plant and, of course, in the administrative areas.

In this sense, the new edition of the International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers will not only focus on the importance of exploration activity or the discovery of new deposits, but will also highlight the role of women in the mining exploration industry.

Thus, for proEXPLO 2021 -an event organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers-, the Round Table "Contribution of women to the Peruvian mining exploration industry" will be held.

This talk will be given by Silvia Kohler, exploration and evaluation geologist with experience in mines and operations of metallic and non-metallic deposits in Peru, Chile and Canada; Clara Indacochea, geological engineer and who has served as representative of Petroperu workers in the period 2013 and 2015; and Maria Manrique, geological engineer and currently engineer in charge of project at the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute (Ingemmet).