On the first day of the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023), organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP), some details of the Valiente exploration project, located in Ucayali, and discovered in 2021, by the Canadian company Hannan Metals, were disclosed.

This project has the same structural characteristics as the Bajo la Alumbrera mine in Catamarca, Argentina, as it is located in the back-arc of the volcanic arc, where mineralization also dates back to the Miocene.

"Valiente project is envisioned as a medium-small project. Structurally it has the same characteristics," said Joselyn Medina.

This was stated by Joselyn Medina during the presentation of her technical work, prepared together with Dr. Patrice Baby, where she pointed out that there is a mineralization system that coexists with an oil system in the Ucayali river basin, and also with another mineral system, which is a possible MVT (Missisipi Valley Type). "We are in a very interesting context with two mineral systems," she says.

The Ucayali basin is a sedimentary basin belonging to the sub-Andean basin system. It is known for major hydrocarbon deposits such as Camisea (gas field). For this reason, its oil system has been studied in detail, leaving aside the possible mineral system that the basin may contain.

The discovery of copper and gold anomalies at Hannan Metals' Valiente project, located on the Ucayali basin thrust and fold belt system, is the most relevant evidence of mineralization in the area and questions the possibility of a hypothetical mineral system.

According to the results obtained in Joselyn Medina's thesis, the mineral system at the Valiente Project is related to an intrusive and fault system in the area; however, a possible mineral contribution from the basin is not ruled out.

According to Medina, Valiente, in addition to being a gold and copper project, has a lead and zinc section, which coincides with previous reports made in Ingemmet bulletins since 1998.

"In the latest news it has been reported that they have more budget to continue drilling. Now, they are in the geophysical modeling stage and drilling will begin as soon as the rain stops," Medina explained.

It is worth mentioning that this research was carried out for Medina's undergraduate thesis, within the framework of a partnership with the Pontifica Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) and the Institute of Research for Development (IRD).

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

During the opening ceremony of the International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers - proEXPLO 2023, a minute of silence was observed for the 27 workers who died in an accident at a mining company in the Arequipa region.

Juan Carlos Ortiz, vice-president of the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, prior to the opening speech, regretted the death of the workers and called for greater awareness and respect for the health and safety of employees to avoid fatal accidents.

"At this difficult moment, we join in a minute of silence for the disappearance of our brother workers, sending our condolences to their families to help them cope with this situation and our prayers that they may find eternal rest," he said.

"Our mining industry, committed to the integrity of our people, is working hard to ensure that these unfortunate events do not happen again. Therefore, a multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary effort is needed to strengthen occupational safety inspection," he said.

Recently, 27 workers lost their lives as a result of a fire at the Yanaquihua mining company in Arequipa, which occurred at midnight on May 5, the causes of which are still under investigation.

The company reported that the deceased belonged to a contractor company specialized in mining services and that 175 workers were evacuated and are out of danger, thanks to the activation of the contingency plan shortly after the incident.

"We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of our deceased brothers and assure our full cooperation and support at this tragic and painful time. We thank the regional and police authorities for their cooperation and we are at their disposal for any investigation that may be necessary," the company informed.

He also indicated that they will soon be sharing more information about the accident, together with the authorities who are present at the scene.

"At this time of great sorrow, we prioritize support for the bereaved and the rescued workers. In the following hours and days we will provide more information as soon as it becomes available," concluded Minera Yanaquihua.

Minem provides support

For its part, the Ministry of Energy and Mines informed that it has been coordinating actions with the authorities of Yanaquihua and with the private sector, represented by the National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy (SNMPE), to assist with the search and rescue operations being carried out by the company and the National Police.

Likewise, Minem has arranged for liaison personnel from the General Directorate of Mining Formalization (DGFM) to go to the mining unit, accompanying the team from the Arequipa Regional Management of Energy and Mines.

" Minem expresses its solidarity and condolences to the families and relatives of the workers who died while working for the company Minera Yanaquihua SAC MYSAC, which operates in the province of Condesuyos, Arequipa region," it communicated.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

During his participation in proEXPLO 2023, José Vizquerra, president and CEO of O3 Mining, warned that Peru is facing a context of reduced gold reserves and production, which should be reversed to take advantage of the high price of the metal, which will remain above US$ 2,000 at least until next year and will average US$ 1,700 in the long term.

"If we focus on reserves, Peru would have reserves for only 29 years. In other words, we're wrong if we think we're going to be rich and produce gold forever.

Time flies. More than 30 years ago, specifically in 1992, we had the most important discovery in the world, Yanacocha, and it is no longer what it was before, it no longer produces 3 million ounces," he said during a technical talk.

The executive added that a similar situation is being experienced worldwide, where gold resources have declined to 1,672,000 ounces, making it necessary to accelerate the development of gold mining projects until they become productive units to meet current and future demand.

"We can see that in 2016 there were greater gold resources compared to what we have in 2022, but these resources were not found that same year, but possibly found six or ten years earlier," he explained.

For José Vizquerra, the future of the gold industry in Peru towards 2030 "is terrible", because we are currently facing great difficulties in terms of administrative procedures for the approval of exploration and drilling permits in a shorter period of time.

"We have to do a huge effort to work together with the industry to streamline bureaucratic processes, and perhaps streamline bureaucratic processes in general, as they may be pushing us to informality because they're not delivering," he argued.

Likewise, the also president of Silver Mountain Resources argued that interest rates have increased gradually and steadily since 2004, and it was not until they began to decline in 2016 that the gold price was able to recover.

In addition to the above, he argued that gold would also benefit from the onset of a global economic recession that could come after 2023, since the metal would become a safe-haven asset to avoid the crisis and would further increase its price.

"The most important banks worldwide are extremely optimistic about the gold price. They estimate an average gold price of $1700 in the long term. But certainly, if I were to make my own assessment, I think we're going to continue to see gold above $2,000 for the next year or so," he predicted.

Finally, José Vizquerra reflected that Peru has the obligation to produce gold in an adequate and orderly manner in order to attract more young people who are committed to mining that is socially and environmentally responsible, that creates jobs and is a lever for poverty reduction.

"The only way to attract investment is to provide the necessary conditions for this money to enter the country so that we can generate the greatest number of jobs for the greatest number of people. We are not only competing for money and natural resources, we are also competing for human talent," he concluded.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

The Minister of Energy and Mines, Oscar Vera, officially inaugurated the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023), organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP), which will be held in person from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center, and is chaired by Sebastian Benavides.

"This event is an occasion to ratify that Peru implements mining with high quality standards and that exploration activities are developed in a conscious,

responsible and sustainable manner in harmony with the communities and without affecting the environment or people," said Minister Vera.

He also highlighted the great importance of promoting mining exploration in Peru, a strategic activity to give sustainability to our mining industry, considered one of the main ones at a global level and whose contribution is vital to achieve the economic growth and development of the country.

Oscar Vera commented that the mining exploration portfolio currently comprises 74 projects located in 17 regions and represents an investment of US$ 596 million. And 30 of the 74 projects are under execution or about to begin that stage, having all the permits granted by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem), which represent an investment of US$ 134 million, 22.5% of the portfolio amount.

"In Minem we are confident in the success that proEXPLO 2023 will achieve and we are certain that this event will reach the goals set and will be able to create the baselines and content that will serve to continue disseminating the importance of mining in the country, such as the development that it has achieved, and allows it to cohabit and even enhance other traditional economic activities in its area of influence," he said.

This ceremony was held at Casa Hoross, located in Barranco, with the presence of Sebastián Benavides, president of proEXPLO 2023; Juan Carlos Ortiz, second vice-president of the IIMP; Henry Luna, president of the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute (Ingemmet); the members of the Organizing Committee of the event; among other guests related to the sector.

In his opening speech, Sebastián Benavides, president of proEXPLO 2023, said that this 13th edition will be the largest in the history of proEXPLO, organized by the IIMP.

"Seeing the success of this congress, both for those participants coming from different parts of the world, as well as for the different companies and entities that will be present, betting on long-term exploration in Peru, leaves a clear message that we continue to believe in the geological potential and the future of this incredible mining country," he remarked.

Return to in-person modality

Carlos Ortiz, vice-president of the IIMP, highlighted the return of proEXPLO to in-person attendance, after the pandemic context, which forced the organizers to adapt the event to a virtual format. "This year is very special for our Institute, as it represents the return to the in-person modality of proEXPLO," he remarked.

It is worth mentioning that, prior to the start of the protocol ceremony, a minute of silence was held to remember the 27 workers who died on Saturday, May 6, after a fatal accident at the Alpacay mining unit in Arequipa.

"As a formal mining industry committed to the integrity of our employees, we have been working to ensure that these unfortunate events are not repeated," said Juan Carlos Ortiz in making this minute of silence.

The deceased belonged to a contractor company specialized in mining services, according to a public statement issued by Yanaquihua mining company.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

• Vice President of the IIMP said that global investment in mining exploration will reach US$ 13 billion in 2022.

The vice-president of the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, Juan Carlos Ortiz, stated that the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2033), which returned to the in-person modality, is taking place in an exceptional world context that we cannot miss as a country, since global investment in mining exploration will reach US$ 13 billion in 2022.

This reflects 16% growth over 2021, as a result of growing interest in the energy transition, the post-pandemic recovery, robust metal prices and healthy project financing conditions.

"25% of the total budget, i.e. US$ 3.26 billion, was invested in the development of exploration projects in Latin America, with the main destinations being: Chile, with US$ 713.2 million; Mexico, with US$ 633.4 million; and Peru, with US$ 531.3 million," mentioned Ortiz during the inauguration of proEXPLO 2023.

The IIMP vice-president remarked that we were the country with the third largest capital budget in mining exploration in the region, and, therefore, we continue to be an attractive jurisdiction for mining investments.

"That said, proEXPLO 2023 will become the right platform to rethink the mining exploration activity in Peru, reorient our efforts in search of greater competitiveness, and renew our image as a reliable country for investment and possessing a wide and varied geological wealth; involving the State, companies, academia, civil society and communities in these purposes," he said.

This 2023 marks the return to the in-person modality of proEXPLO, whose thirteenth edition is chaired by Sebastián Benavides and supported by a specialized team of 14 professionals with an outstanding professional trajectory in exploration issues at national and international level.

proEXPLO 2023 brings together the main players in Peruvian and international geology to analyze and debate the present and future of exploration, share proposals for the investigation of deposits, exchange experiences on new discoveries and innovative tools, and strengthen knowledge related to prospecting, exploration, investment and project development.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

Today begins at 8:30 a.m. the conferences of the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023), chaired by Anglo American's Discovery Manager for Peru-Ecuador, Sebastián Benavides, under the slogan: "Discovering the mining of the future".

Until Wednesday, May 10, the Lima Convention Center will host 30 technical studies, nine keynote lectures, six talks by special guests and two round tables, among others.

Regarding the keynote lectures, Massimo Chiaradia, Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Geneva (Switzerland), will address the topic: "Distinct Magma Evolution Processes Control the Formation of Porphyry Cu-Au Deposits in Thin and Thick Arcs".

Cyril Chelle-Michou, Professor of Mineral Resource Systems at ETH Zurich (Switzerland), will discuss "What controls the size of mineral deposits?", and Jeffrey Hedenquist, independent consultant to the mining industry and government groups in the exploration and assessment of hydrothermal gold and copper projects, will speak on "Paleosurface features of porphyry Cu(-Au) deposits: Evidence from active analogues".

Tuesday 9

On Tuesday, May 9, Director of the Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences at the University of Tasmania, David Cooke will present "Tools to aid porphyry exploration in diverse geological environments", and mineral exploration industry consultant, Anne Thompson will discuss "Alteration Mineralogy - the Full Spectrum". To close the day, John Thompson, Professor of Responsible Resources at the University of Bristol (UK), will speak on "Future Mineral Exploration".

Wednesday 10

On Wednesday, May 10, Murray Hitzman, Director of the Irish Research Centre for Applied Geoscience (iCRAG), will give a digital presentation on "The Importance of Geologic Models for Critical Metals Exploration". Also, Research Associate at James Cook University (Townsville, Australia), Stephanie Mrozek will discuss the "Antamina Geological Update", and Professor of Geological Engineering and Economic Geologist at the New Mexico School of Mines, William X. Chavez Jr. will present "Flavor of the Month - The Need for Critical Elements in a Green World".

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

The 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023), organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP), began with the traditional ribbon cutting of the Technology Exhibition and Trade Show, which will be held from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center.

In this edition, the Technology Exhibition and Trade Show is led in design, planning and execution by Noe Vilcas, a renowned Peruvian business-oriented geologist with more than 25 years of experience in management positions in local and foreign mining companies.

"We want the Exhibition to consolidate itself as a platform to promote the geological wealth of our territory, especially at a time when Peru is said to be among the five countries with the largest mining reserves of silver, copper and zinc," said Vilcas at the opening ceremony.

During the three days of the event, this space will offer visitors the opportunity to visit 66 stands featuring leading companies and institutions, 10 press modules and 7 Core Shack modules that will showcase the geological wealth of 8 mining exploration projects in Peru.

"We also hope that the Exhibition will contribute to enhance Peru's image as the most favorable destination for mining investments, in view of the latest Fraser Institute survey that ranks us 35th among attractive jurisdictions to develop mining," added the Exhibition manager.

For his part, the president of proEXPLO 2023, Sebastián Benavides, optimistically expressed that this exhibition complements the conference program of the congress to disseminate Peru's great geological potential at an international level and strengthen the momentum of mining exploration in the country.

"More than a trade show, the Technology Exhibition and Trade Show seeks to highlight the projects that will sustain the growth of our mining industry, attract investment for the discovery of new deposits and share innovative solutions for exploration," said Sebastián Benavides.

Benavides also considered that this is a good reason to revalue our mining tradition and make ourselves known as a safe jurisdiction for capital, even more so when Peru is the country with the third largest exploration investment budget in Latin America.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was also attended by Silvia Rosas and Eugenio Ferrari, former presidents of proEXPLO, as well as the president of Ingemmet, Henry Luna, and the president of the CIP Engineering Chapter, Germán Arce. Representing the IIMP were Carlos Diez Canseco, general manager, Miguel Cardozo, member of the proEXPLO advisory committee, and Jorde Ardila, former president of the IIMP.

Finally, the ribbon cutting ceremony continued with a tour of the different stands of the Technology Exhibition and Trade Show, which included visits to the stands of the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute, among other entities, companies and suppliers related to mining.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

This Friday, the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers - proEXPLO 2023 began with one of the seven specialized courses for this edition. The course "Mineralizing Processes in Hydrothermal Systems - Implications for Mineral Genesis and Exploration" is given by David Cooke and is being held at the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP).

More than 30 participants are receiving training today from David Cooke, director of the Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences (CODES), and a researcher of the hydrothermal and magmatic processes leading to the formation of epithermal porphyry copper and gold ores since the mid-1980s.

The courses will continue in the next few days according to the following schedule:

• The course "ESG, the Competitive Package: Environmental, Social and Governance Tools and Practices for Explorers" will be held on Saturday, May 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is a virtual course that will be taught by Karin Torres, Aldo León, Jenny Vento, Catherine Sahley and Gabriel Pinto.
• The course "Fundamentals of Mineral Resource Estimation" will be held on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. This course will be held in person at the IIMP and will be presented by Sean Horan and Rosmery Cardenas.
• The course "Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Processes - Application to Mineral Exploration" will be held on Sunday, May 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the IIMP. William X. Chavez Jr. will be the lecturer in charge of this course.
• The course "Geophysical Methods for Geologists" will be held on Thursday, May 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the IIMP facilities. José Arce will be in charge of the lecture.
• The course "Considerations for Disclosing Public Reports" will be held on Thursday, May 11 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. This is a virtual course that will be presented by Deborah McCombe of SLR, Rosmery Cardenas of SLR, Reno Pressacco of CIM, and Craig Waldie of OSC.
• The course "Epithermal Deposits and Transition to Porphyry-type Environment: Formation and Exploration" will be held on Thursday May 11 and Friday May 12 at the IIMP facilities. This course will start at 9:00 a.m. and will end at 5:00 p.m. The lecturers in charge are Antonio Arribas and Jeffrey Hedenquist.

For more information and to register for the courses, please contact us at the following links.

For more information, click here: https://wa.me/51942788347

Registrations: https://proexplo.com.pe/proexplo2023/front/public/es/inscripciones-es/CC1

proEXPLO 2023

It is worth mentioning that the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023) will be inaugurated on Sunday, May 7 and will develop its conference program from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center.

proEXPLO 2023 will bring together government authorities, industry leaders, national and international specialists, entrepreneurs, professors and students to discuss mining exploration opportunities, the latest technological advances and trends to ensure that this activity benefits collective development.

Learn about the conference program at the following link: https://www.proexplo.com.pe/proexplo2023/front/public/es/oral

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

The virtual course "ESG, the competitive package: Environmental, social and governance tools and practices for explorers", organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, will be held on April 6 as part of proEXPLO 2023.

In the following interview, Karin Torres, an environmental engineer with more than 19 years of experience, discusses the importance of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) approach in mining, and some details of this important course.

What is the ESG approach?

The ESG approach seeks to integrate sustainability into the corporate strategy of organizations to make them more competitive and attractive to socially responsible investors.

This approach is incorporated through the definition of long-term objectives, targets and indicators aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and voluntary international standards. These objectives can be environmental, such as decarbonization and energy transition, environmental compensation with net biodiversity gain; focused on governance, such as strengthening corporate governance and transparency in reporting; or on social aspects, such as promoting equity, diversity and inclusion and human rights management, to name a few examples.

What is the challenge for the mining sector in terms of ESG criteria?

The challenge for the mining sector is to know the concepts and international standards that will allow them to transform the information they already generate and make it attractive to investors, the market and their stakeholders. For an investor, compliance with local regulations is the minimum expected of any organization.

The mining trends reports from EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC for 2022 and 2023 coincide in pointing out that ESG issues are among the main risks and opportunities for the mining sector and this trend will continue in the coming years.

What aspects did ESG trends in mining focus on a few years ago?

Prior to the pandemic, ESG trends focused on strengthening governance, employee health and safety management, human rights management including supply chain and host communities. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the importance of the supply chain in ensuring the operational continuity of mines and new opportunities have arisen to drive efficiency, resilience and transparency in supply chain management.

The most important mining companies in the country have robust management systems for these issues. However, it remains a challenge for most companies, especially explorers.

What are the ESG trends in mining today?

Currently, ESG trends are focused on decarbonization and energy transition plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 under the framework of the Task Force on Climate-Related Finance Disclosures (TCFD), promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, human rights management under the framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP), disclosure of risks and impacts on biodiversity and natural capital to achieve net profit under the framework of the Task Force on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), tailings management under the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), and increased transparency in disclosure of information focused on various stakeholders.

In Peru, what progress has been made to strengthen the development of the ESG approach?

It is relevant to mention that the Ministry of Environment is working on developing Peru's Green Protocol (Protocolo Verde), which will identify the economic activities that are sustainable in the context of the European Green Deal. It is also important to note that mining is a key sector for the energy transition and decarbonization, so it is expected to be included in the country taxonomy. Its inclusion will make mining investments in the country more attractive, ESG issues will have greater relevance and there will be a greater offer of sustainable financing; however, to access these opportunities mining companies need to be prepared, they need to identify their sustainability risks, incorporate them into their corporate management strategy and evidence the achievement of goals and compliance with ESG commitments, these factors are key to access financing with more attractive interest rates than those offered by commercial banks.

What is the importance of the course "ESG, the Competitive Package" that you will be giving together with your colleagues?

The course is important to learn about the latest trends in environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects in the mining sector, with a regional application approach based on the international experience of the speakers in project development. The course will share successful cases of ESG implementation in mining projects that have facilitated access to financing and improved the reputation of the companies and their relationship with their stakeholders.

For example, Dr. Sahley, who is a leading international biodiversity expert who has conducted multiple studies and assessments of biodiversity risks in the mining sector, will share case studies on how to prepare these studies to meet investor requirements.

Also, attorney Jenny Vento, who has extensive experience in Human Rights, will share her experience in the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Each of the speakers will share the experiences, challenges and opportunities that exist for the implementation of sustainability strategies.

What practical tools will be taught in this course?

Practical tools will be shared on how to design ESG strategies, from how to assess sustainability risks, including the different ESG fronts, the methodologies required by investors to ensure that the risk assessment is consistent and based on scientific information that can be traceable and verifiable, to how to incorporate these ESG objectives into the mines' corporate strategy.

Within the course materials, links to the main methodologies applied in ESG assessment will be shared, so that participants can use them as a reference in the implementation of their strategies.

Who is this course for?

The course is not only intended for mine sustainability professionals, but also focuses on addressing the challenges of financial managers and decision makers, who are the first line of contact with investors.

For more information, click here: https://wa.me/51942788347

Registrations: https://proexplo.com.pe/proexplo2023/front/public/es/inscripciones-es/CC1

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

If you are looking to refresh and expand your knowledge of the latest trends in the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, the following specialized course may be of interest to you.

The course "ESG, the competitive package: Environmental, social and governance tools and practices for explorers" will address international standards, application frameworks, ESG risks, operational risk management through case studies, and the forms of disclosure and reporting of sustainability issues required by mining investors.

Strategic planning, financial and geological professionals and graduate students interested in leading the transformation of their organizations towards the new market trends can participate.

This course will be held in online modality on Saturday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and, it is worth mentioning that it is being held within the framework of the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023).

Instructors

The course will be taught by leading experts, such as Karin Torres, an environmental and natural resources engineer with more than 18 years of experience in environmental and social consulting, and leader of sustainable financing projects and mergers and acquisitions processes.

In addition, Aldo León, an environmental engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the mining industry, will participate in this event, having collaborated in the preparation and management of environmental studies for mining projects in their various stage.

Also, Jenny Vento, a lawyer specialized in social conflict management, corporate social responsibility, arbitration and human rights, will be present. She has successfully worked for Anglo American Quellaveco, CONFIEP and SNMPE.

Ph.D. Catherine Teresa Sahley, ERM Biodiversity Specialist with more than 20 years working in the field of biodiversity as a program consultant, researcher and educator, will also be part of the teaching team.

Finally, Gabriel Pinto, a forestry engineer with more than 20 years of experience in environmental monitoring, who is currently Vice President of Sustainability at Sierra Metals and previously held local and global positions at Barrick Gold, will also participate as an instructor.

Registration

For more information and to participate, please contact us at inscripciones@iimp.org.pe, or click on the links below:

For more information, click here: https://wa.me/51942788347

Registrations: https://proexplo.com.pe/proexplo2023/front/public/es/inscripciones-es/CC1

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

Sebastián Benavides, president of the International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023), said in an interview for the television program Tierra Adentro that permitting is one of the main obstacles for the development of mining exploration in Peru and that it makes us lose competitiveness compared to countries such as Chile, Canada and Australia.

"In Peru it takes you a year and a half to get your early exploration permit, while in Canada it can take you a few weeks and in Chile a few months, that's something that makes you less competitive. A company that wants to come to invest can explore 3 or 4 projects in Canada in the time it takes to explore one project in Peru," he said.

He further explained that improving the conditions for attracting investment in mining exploration is important to ensure the continuity of the growth that mining has experienced in recent years. In addition, it is a diversified investment, targeting all of Peru and providing development opportunities in different geographic and geological environments.

"The issue of permitting is important. Not to make the process less rigorous, but with the rigorousness that we have, to seek bureaucratic efficiencies in order to speed it up and do it at scale", emphasized Benavides.

He also indicated that our country is in a position to recover the momentum for mining exploration. Although the investment figure for 2021 (US$ 336 million) increased in 2022 (US$ 417 million), growth has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

It is worth mentioning that in 2021 the figure amounted to US$493 million and has been decreasing since then for various reasons, including bureaucratic procedures and permitting.

"We have had issues that have made us less competitive globally, even in Latin America, where in 2017 we were the main destination for mining exploration investment and today we are after Chile and Mexico, in third place," Benavides specified.

Therefore, it is time for the country to boost its investment attractiveness for mining exploration, a complicated industry, as one out of every 100 projects drilled will one day become a mine.

proEXPLO 2023

On the other hand, the president of proEXPLO 2023 invited the public to participate in the congress to be held from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center, where all the issues related to mining exploration, as well as the latest technological advances, will be discussed in depth.

"Within the program, we will have 9 keynote lectures with globally referenced exhibitors and 2 round tables that focus on certain cross-cutting themes. The first one is Diversity and Inclusion, how from exploration we can start to change the trends in the sector; also how to empower academia from the industry; and ESG issues in exploration projects," he said.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

Despite political instability and social conflict, Peru has been developing various mining exploration activities that still make it an attractive destination for foreign investment. Jobs, increased tax contributions, improved energy and communications infrastructure are some of the benefits to communities, which are also favored with the opportunity to form companies that meet the needs of the sector, such as hotels, transportation, food services, among others. For this reason, it is important to identify which mining projects in exploration stage currently have the greatest geological potential to continue boosting the country's economy.

The projects are Ayawilca (Tinka Resources) in Pasco; Paraíso (Inversiones La Chalina) in Arequipa; Malvas (Corporación Minera Toma La Mano), Soledad (Chakana Resources) and Elida (Element 29) in Ancash; Cotabambas (Panoro Minerals) in Apurímac; Reliquias (Silver Mountain Resources) in Huancavelica; and Aurora (DLP Resources) in Cusco.

"Cotabambas and Ayawilca are the most advanced projects. The first is in pre-feasibility stage and estimates an investment of more than US$ 1.48 billion; and the second, in conceptual stage and an investment of US$ 264 million", said Álvaro Fernández-Baca, head of Project Fair at proEXPLO 2023.

In terms of greenfield projects in early development, the Soledad and Elida projects stand out, both located in the department of Ancash, where the mineral explored is mainly copper, with a combined investment of approximately US$ 50 million.

The topic of mining exploration is key to the country's economic development, which will be fully developed at the International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers proEXPLO 2023, the most important mining exploration event in the region, organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP), which will bring together the main players in Peruvian and international geology to exchange and strengthen knowledge related to the industry.

Congress attendees will be able to get a closer look at these projects in the Core Shack, whose modules will be located in the Technology Exhibition of the event, where companies will showcase the geological characteristics of their deposits with hand samples, cores, photographs and plans.

"The Core Shack is important because it allows companies to exhibit their mineralized samples or cores from the main exploration projects in the country and for participants to learn or expand their knowledge about their own core samples," explains proEXPLO 2023 president Sebastián Benavides.

It is worth mentioning that one of the objectives of proEXPLO is to emphasize that mining exploration must be understood from a comprehensive perspective, since each of its activities is part of a value chain, which allows consolidating the findings of new deposits. It also seeks to raise awareness of Peru's great geological potential, encourage new investments and strengthen links between prospectors, explorers and service providers.

We invite you to proEXPLO 2023, to be held from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center (district of San Borja), to access the Core Shack, the Technology Exhibition and the entire program of specialized conferences.

For more information, please visit www.proexplo.com.pe

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

Thirty geology students who are part of the second edition of the Mining Talent Pool scholarship program (II Cantera de Talentos para la Minería) will have free access to the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023) to be held from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center.

This benefit has been considered mainly for Geology scholarship holders, since this international congress brings together specialists in Geology worldwide, as well as representatives from universities, geological services, mining companies, exploration companies and investors in general.

It is worth mentioning that the Talent Pool scholarship recipients belong to 26 universities in the country, so some of the students are not in Lima, but in other regions. However, this will not prevent them from participating in proEXPLO, as they will be given virtual access to the entire conference program of the event.

Scholarship holders who are able to attend proEXPLO in person will have access to the conference program and the Technology Exhibition, with more than 70 stands and 8 Core Shack modules, which will allow them to learn about the geological wealth of 8 Peruvian deposits.

Participating in proEXPLO will be a very valuable experience for those young people who will soon begin their professional careers. It will bring them closer to the reality of the industry at a national and international level, and they will broaden their knowledge with the latest advances in mining exploration that will be presented.

The benefit of providing free access to 30 scholarship holders has been made possible thanks to the coordination of Eng. Enrique Garay, leader of the Geology area, and Eng. Sebastián Benavides, president of proEXPLO 2023.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

Ricardo Carrión, Capital Markets Manager of Kallpa SAB and member of the organizing committee of proEXPLO 2023, an event organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, lists the actions that our country should implement to trigger investments in the search for new deposits, the countries with which we compete to dazzle junior mining companies and some of the exploration projects that have a better future.

What are junior mining companies and why are they so important?

These are companies dedicated to exploration activities and are important because they carry out specialized work for the search and prospecting of deposits that may be put into production in the future, whether they are small, medium or large. In addition, they assume great risks for the discovery of mineral deposits that could be economically exploitable or not, so this work must be led by professionals with vast experience to maximize the chance of success of the exploration project and minimize the threat of not finding anything.

How interested are junior mining companies in Peru?

The interest is marked by three pillars. The first is the geological potential, where we stand out for our great mineralogical diversity, which has led to large megaprojects today and it is very likely that we have the capacity to continue finding even larger mines. The second is macroeconomic stability, which we have enjoyed for the past 30 years. And the third pillar is the social-political ecosystem, in which we have had ups and downs for the last two years, which has partially paused exploration.

Exploration activity is correlated with the investment world, so we can say that if investors see that a country has geological potential and macroeconomic stability, but does not have the will to do things right politically and socially, the exploration investment process stops. So, there is currently interest in the first and second pillars, but also concern about the third.

How many such companies explore or list in the country?

We must understand that exploration activities can be carried out by companies focused on developing new projects, as well as by large companies in need of expanding operations or replenishing reserves. Between these two groups there are an estimated 300 to 400 exploration projects in Peru, according to official statistics.

The mining companies that lead most of these ventures in our country are listed on the stock exchanges of Australia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. And of this universe, around 10 mining companies also maintain a listing on the Lima Stock Exchange.

Which exploration projects stand out the most?

We have early and advanced stage exploration projects. In the first group we can highlight Soledad project of Chakana Resources, Elida of Element 29 and Dorita of Silver Mountain Resources, which show good progress and interesting results in copper and silver prospecting. On the other hand, the second group includes the Cotabambas project of Panoro Minerals, Cañariaco of Candente Copper and Ayawilca of Tinka Resources, which are of copper or argentiferous origin. These projects show an estimate of resources and reserves and are more likely to enter the pipeline of future production units of the national mining sector.

What are the biggest challenges for mineral exploration?

Historically, the challenge has been geological, as exploration activities are high risk and this can be mitigated with teams that have sufficient knowledge and experience to take a project forward. Another challenge is the search for investors, since factors such as wars, recessions and others restrict the flow of capital for the continuity of the project. There is also the challenge of the political and social environment, which is specific to each jurisdiction and which translates into problems such as social conflicts or high public bureaucracy, which delay the execution of exploration projects and increase their costs.

How could our country attract junior mining companies?

First, as a country we must offer a political message that vindicates mining as one of the drivers of economic and social growth, and that it should be considered in the development agenda of the different governments we elect. Second, we must reduce red tape in order to stimulate the development of projects in shorter time frames, and everything related to permits and financing. And, third, is to improve interaction with the surrounding communities, which is much more complex, as it involves closing gaps as the project progresses and this is resolved in the long term.

So, if we want to take advantage of good mineral prices to increase tax revenues, build infrastructure and generate social welfare, that is, to achieve sustainable development in the future, it is imperative that we focus on current exploration projects, taking into account that all mining prospects that we begin to evaluate now will probably bear fruit in 15 or 20 years' time.

With which countries do we compete for such companies?

It is difficult to establish a competition, because each country has its pros and cons. For example, Canada and the United States have a mix of geological potential and political and macroeconomic stability, making them quite attractive jurisdictions. For its part, Chile has good conditions with respect to permitting. On the other hand, Peru has a much more interesting geological potential and macroeconomic order, but not complete political or social stability. Therefore, it is more feasible for companies to invest in exploration in the aforementioned countries than in ours.

Therefore, I believe that each of these experiences must be gathered and adapted to our reality in order to be more competitive.

What are your expectations for proEXPLO 2023?

ProEXPLO 2023 has received wide interest from the community of professionals, businessmen and investors, and is being carried out at a particular point in time of high mineral prices, which should be a driving force to promote the discovery of new prospects and the consolidation of exploration projects in the portfolio, for which we are precisely competing with other countries to attract more capital from abroad, and for this purpose our best presentation card as a country is our geological potential and macroeconomic stability.

In this sense, the event will feature the presentation of eight promising mining exploration projects, with which we intend to motivate the arrival of junior mining companies and large mining companies to increase their participation in the Peruvian market.

Corporations, investors and prospectors have shown interest in working together to revive the mining exploration sector in Peru, and if this is accompanied by political will, it will be spectacular. So I think we will probably have one of the best editions of proEXPLO in the last ten years.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

The 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023) presents the course "Geophysical Methods for Geologists", which has its last vacancies available.

This course consists of a theoretical class that will present the various geophysical methods used by geologists in mineral exploration, geotechnical and groundwater studies, with emphasis on the study of the Earth as a whole.

The class structure covers generalities, potential field methods (spontaneous potential, radiometry, gravimetry and magnetometry), electrical and electromagnetic methods (resistivity and induced polarization), and seismic methods (seismic refraction and active and passive source MASW).

The speaker in charge is Jose Arce, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Missouri-Rolla and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Geophysics from the University of Arizona. Active in the sector since 1993, he has carried out more than 1,400 geophysical surveys and consultancies throughout the Americas. He is also a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), where he has headed several committees.

The course will be held on Thursday, May 11 of this year, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the premises of the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, located at Calle Los Canarios 155, Urb. San César, II Etapa, La Molina.

For registration and more information, please send an email to inscripciones@iimp.org.pe or contact via WhatsApp to +51 951 294 314 / +51 952 192 021 / +51 955 750 108

About proEXPLO

The International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO) is one of the main geological-mining events in Latin America and a mandatory meeting for companies and professionals involved in exploration-related activities.

Chaired by Sebastián Benavides and under the slogan "Discovering the mining of the future", the thirteenth edition of proEXPLO will be held from May 8 to 10, 2023 in the city of Lima.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

If your objective is to gain the trust of investors to obtain financing to support the development and exploration of your mining project, this is your opportunity to participate in the course "Considerations for disclosing public reports", organized by proEXPLO 2023.

The workshop will share key disclosure concepts of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, including the definition of Qualified Person, disclosure of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, preparation of a Technical report and its triggers, and comparison with other international codes.

In addition, best practice guidelines on mineral resources and reserves, reviews of disclosure by regulators and common observations, and components of technical information disclosure to the public domain will be presented.

The seminar is aimed at geoscientists, engineers, officials and managers, contributing to the understanding of the underlying principles and reporting requirements associated with the technical disclosure of mining projects under NI 43-101.

Lecturers

The course will be taught by Deborah McCombe, a senior geologist with 35 years of experience in exploration project management, feasibility studies, resource and reserve estimation, due diligence and valuation studies in various geological environments.

Also joining the team of instructors will be Reno Pressaco, a consulting mineral resource geologist with 36 years of experience in mineral exploration, mine development and production, and one of the discoverers of the Cerro Negro deposit in Argentina.

Rosmery Cardenas, a geological engineer with 20 years of experience in the mining industry, including mine exploration, development and production activities in a wide variety of geological environments in several countries, will also participate.

Rounding out the team will be Craig Waldie, a senior geologist with more than 20 years of experience in the mineral exploration and mining industry, having worked for multinational resource companies and as vice president of exploration for junior mining companies.

Registration

For registration, please send an email to inscripciones@iimp.org.pe or leave a message via WhatsApp to +51 951 294 314 / +51 952 192 021 / +51 955 750 108. ProEXPLO is an event organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers to be held from May 8 to 10, 2023.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

On the occasion of the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers - proEXPLO 2023, the course "ESG, the competitive package: Environmental, social and governance tools and practices for explorers" will be held on May 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the headquarters of the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, located in the district of La Molina.

According to the organization, the course will emphasize the analysis and discussion of trends and tools for the incorporation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria within mining organizations.

Thus, international standards, application frameworks, ESG risks, operational risk management through case studies and the forms of disclosure and reporting of sustainability issues required by mining investors will be addressed.

With respect to the target audience, the course is aimed at strategic planning, financial and geological professionals and graduate students interested in leading the transformation of their organizations towards new market trends.

Instructors

The course will be taught by leading experts, such as Karin Torres, an environmental and natural resources engineer with more than 18 years of experience in environmental and social consulting, and leader of sustainable financing projects and mergers and acquisitions processes.

In addition, Aldo León, an environmental engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the mining industry, will participate in this event, having collaborated in the preparation and management of environmental studies for mining projects in their various stage.

Also, Jenny Vento, a lawyer specialized in social conflict management, corporate social responsibility, arbitration and human rights, will be present. She has successfully worked for Anglo American Quellaveco, CONFIEP and SNMPE.

Ph.D. Catherine Teresa Sahley, ERM Biodiversity Specialist with more than 20 years working in the field of biodiversity as a program consultant, researcher and educator, will also be part of the teaching team.

Finally, Gabriel Pinto, a forestry engineer with more than 20 years of experience in environmental monitoring, who is currently Vice President of Sustainability at Sierra Metals and previously held local and global positions at Barrick Gold, will also participate as an instructor.

Registration

For registration, please send an email to inscripciones@iimp.org.pe or leave a message via WhatsApp to +51 951 294 314 / +51 952 192 021 / +51 955 750 108.

ProEXPLO is an event organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers to be held from May 8 to 10, 2023.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

As part of her participation in the conference entitled Mining of the Future: Diversity makes us more competitive, as part of the Road to proEXPLO 2023 (Rumbo a proEXPLO 2023) webinar, Verónica Valderrama, VP of Human Resources at Gold Fields, stated that the company is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the mining sector.

"At Gold Fields, we are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, where all our people thrive, contribute their ideas and skills to the success of the business and achieve a meaningful sense of well-being and purpose at work."

According to official data, only 6.8% of women have managed to work in the national industry. Of this total, 12.6% hold administrative positions, 12.1% hold management positions, 5.1% are in the operations area and only 3.3% remain in the plant.

As for Gold Fields, at the end of 2022, women reached a participation of 25.4 %, which shows an evolution compared to the pre-pandemic figures, which showed an involvement of 21.6 %. This has placed the organization in the top positions in Latin America.

Valderrama also highlighted that in 2017, women made up only 13 % of the work team, which shows that, after five years, the number of women engaged in the mining activity has doubled.

Women participation

"In order to continue incorporating them into the industry, we must first learn about the situation of women in the community and their needs, as well as the gender perspective in procedures and policies, including community relations and social development plans," she said.

In addition, she stressed the importance of developing strategies to raise awareness internally and externally about the risks for women to ensure that ongoing decision-making and other activities incorporate a gender perspective, implement projects to strengthen their capacities, empowerment and opportunities for access to resources, and encourage participation in decision-making, in the management of community resources, and in spaces for dialogue and negotiation.

Private initiatives include CETEMIN "Talento Mujer Minera", WAAIME, WIM and Mujeres Roca, and public initiatives such as MINEM: Comité de Igualdad. Project with IDB: "Mujeres Líderes y estudios de brechas" (Women Leaders and Gap Studies Program) and "Mujeres Mágicas" (Magical Women) project.

"There are increasing opportunities for women to participate more actively in roles such as dump truck operation, community relations, environmental management, communications, among others," she added.

Gold Fields Case

At an external level, Gold Fields has been developing mentoring with strategic partners such as WIM Peru and WAAIME, empowerment conferences to encourage more women to study STEM careers, participation in Human Resources, diversity and inclusion committees throughout the country, and the signing of an agreement with the Ministry of Women to extend the benefits of the national plan against violence.

At the internal level, we have established inclusive and diverse policies, inclusive language, flexible schedules and benefits for families, leadership and mentoring programs for women, training in disruptive innovation techniques, unconscious bias workshop and scholarship programs.

Mamá Talento

Gold Fields has been working on the "Mamá talento ¡Pasión que renace!" program, focused on the wives/partners of its workers who are mothers, providing them with the necessary tools to boost their employability.

"This project solves one of the major problems of reintegration into the labor market after becoming a mother, has an impact on the self-esteem of participants and boosts employability, giving them impactful tools to enhance their professional and personal brand, which is aligned with our purpose of leaving a legacy and creating value for the families of our workers," she said.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

Peru's mineral wealth will be present at the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023) and the public will have the opportunity to learn about it up close through the Core Shack or drill core exhibition, whose modules will be located in the Technology Exhibition of the event.

"The Core Shack is important because it allows companies to exhibit their mineralized samples or cores from the main exploration projects in the country and for participants to learn or expand their knowledge about their own core samples," explains proEXPLO 2023 president Sebastián Benavides.

There will be 8 properly equipped modules in which the companies will exhibit the geological characteristics of their deposits with hand samples, cores, photographs and plans.

The mining exploration projects to be presented on this occasion are: Ayawilca (Tinka Resources), Soledad (Chakana Resources), Paraíso (Inversiones La Chalina), Malvas (Corporación Minera Toma La Mano), Cotabambas (Panoro Minerals), Reliquias (Silver Mountain Resources), Elida (Element 29) and Aurora (DLP Resources).

It is worth mentioning that one of the objectives of proEXPLO is to emphasize that mining exploration must be understood from a comprehensive perspective, since each of its activities is part of a value chain, which allows consolidating the findings of new deposits. It also seeks to raise awareness of Peru's great geological potential, encourage new investments and strengthen links between prospectors, explorers and service providers.

We invite you to proEXPLO 2023, to be held from May 8 to 10, at the Lima Convention Center, to access the Core Shack, the Technology Exhibition and the entire program of specialized conferences.

For registration details, please visit the following link: https://www.proexplo.com.pe/proexplo2023/front/public/es/categorias-ins

About proEXPLO 2023

Due to its interesting conference program and the outstanding speakers, proEXPLO has become one of the main geological-mining events in Latin America and a must-attend meeting for companies and professionals working in the sector.

This year's edition of proEXPLO will have as its slogan "Discovering the mining of the future", and will feature 9 keynote speakers, 4 lectures and 2 round tables, 30 technical papers and a Core Shack area with the participation of 8 mining companies.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

During the Road to proEXPLO 2023 (Rumbo a proEXPLO 2023) webinar, focused on Diversity and Inclusion as a key aspect for the mining industry of the future, the importance of incorporating practices and policies on the subject in companies in the mining sector was discussed, as well as what is needed to do so.

Carolina Herrera-Cano, a consultant at Aequales, a company that advises on gender equity and corporate diversity in Latin America, pointed out that a systematic change is required, for which an orderly approach, investment allocation, definition of clear goals and accountability must be established.

"Change will not come about simply because we wait for women, people with disabilities, etc. to join the company. It requires a plan with constant monitoring, budget allocation, and that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is understood as one of the vital processes for the sustainability of the company, something that many companies still do not understand," explains Herrera-Cano.

DEI Tools

In this regard, she shared a series of practical tools that can be implemented in mining companies to orient their policies to increase the participation of women and provide them with equal opportunities with respect to men.

"We accompany the process from scratch in our company, we even talk about the importance of women having the same opportunities. And we still often see employees who think that women should not be driving a tractor-trailer, for example, but should be in the kitchen," says the Aequales consultant.

One of the tools that can be applied is to have inclusive practices for career opportunities, which could include a training program for women in areas surrounding the mine to be incorporated into technical work.

Another proposal offered is to have respectful workplaces, for example, by considering sexual harassment policies in the workplace. It is also important to work on masculinities and to support not only women, but also men and make them understand the benefits of gender equity and how they can contribute from their position.

It was also recommended to reconcile work with personal commitments. On this point we can mention as an example that there are companies that have implemented day care centers and nursing rooms.

The speaker pointed out that it is also important to carry out inclusive communication in the workplace, showing women through various means (verbal, visual, audiovisual, etc.) that they have the capacity to take advantage of opportunities on an equal footing.

Finally, she mentioned working with a wide range of suppliers, such as companies led by women or that practice Diversity and Inclusion, and contributing to the development of future talent, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

While Herrera-Cano acknowledged that many companies that are successfully implementing this type of initiative tend to be large companies, and adapting this to smaller companies is complicated, she encouraged all organizations to start considering DEI in their operations.

proEXPLO 2023: Discovering the mining of the future

At the proEXPLO 2023 seminar "Mining of the future: diversity makes us more competitive. Good practices and tools," Pía Olea, director of Genderlab, acknowledged that there is social pressure for companies to work towards the goal of gender diversity in the workplace. "For this reason, the corporate agenda places special emphasis on the presence of women in leadership positions," she said.

Based on scientific studies, she stated that companies that work diversity, equality and inclusion, generate benefits, such as attracting talent. "2/3 of people who are working consider that having a diverse workforce is an important factor in their evaluation of companies and job offers," she explained.

In addition, she argued that highly diverse companies are 180% better at adapting to change, and generate 1.4 times more revenue than less diverse companies. "A greater feeling of inclusion in employees generates a higher perception of performance (+17%), better decision making (+20%) and greater collaboration (+29%).

Similarly, she argued that companies with better diversity scores have an average innovation revenue 19% higher than companies with lower diversity scores. "Companies with a higher gender diversity index are 21% more likely to have higher profitability."

Women underrepresented in leadership positions

However, Pía Olea warned that women continue to be "severely" underrepresented in leadership positions, and that discrimination and sexual harassment remain widespread practices. "Disruptive technology skills ratio, i.e., cloud computing, data management and artificial intelligence, and engineering, have an underrepresentation of women," she explained.

In contrast, she compared that women are more represented in sales, marketing, people and culture and content production positions. "There is no problem with these jobs, but we should work to also find a space in jobs that involve these disruptive technology skills," she remarked.

Leaders must build staff loyalty with diversity and equality

On the other hand, the Genderlab director equated that 68% of leaders feel that they create empowering environments in which staff can be authentic, raise concerns and innovate without fear of failure; while 36% of staff feel that leaders create empowering environments. "There is a 30% difference between what leaders think they are doing, and what staff actually feel those leaders are doing."

"When leaders talk to their staff about diversity, equality and inclusion, staff feel that this is a pillar within their organization. If the leader does not talk about prevention of workplace harassment, LGTBIQ+ community, values associated with diversity, it is more difficult for the staff to align with this trend," she said.

proEXPLO 2023: Descubriendo la Minería del Futuro

By 2030, Nexa Resources aims to have 30% represent its total workforce and in leadership positions. But not only that, as they expect this figure to be much higher at their new polymetallic operation Aripuaná, in Brazil, where they estimate to increase this figure to 40%.

This was stated by Nery Monteza, Peru leader of Nexa Resources' Empodera Group, at the seminar "Mining of the future: diversity makes us more competitive. Good practices and tools", in the framework of Road to proEXPLO 2023 (Rumbo a proEXPLO 2023), an event organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP).

"Aripuaná is an example for us that it is possible to operate with 30 or 40% of women, that the challenges that lie ahead are possible to overcome when the company and the people want it," she said.

Nery Monteza also pointed out that Aripuaná was born as a mining project that promoted plurality and sustainable development, the basis for the mining of the future. This operation, which will start operations in 2022, currently has 30% of its workforce.

"To reach 30% of women we have had to make a lot of efforts and projects," Monteza said. One of these projects is "Elas" (Feminine "them" in Portuguese), a social initiative in Aripuaná focused on strengthening the performance of the protection network and public policies aimed at women's rights.

"We even had indigenous communities nearby because we are in the Amazon area and we have had to talk a lot about women's rights, we do it in Peru, but in this operation we felt it was very necessary," she said.

Another project is the training program for future mine and plant operating professionals (maintenance and automation and geology and topography). The company hired 66% (142 people) of the people who attended the training program, of which 66% (94) are men and 34% (48) are women.

The Aripuaná underground mine, located some 2,000 km northwest of the capital Brasilia, is expected to reach full plant capacity in the second half of this year. Its average annual production is forecast at 70,000 tons of zinc, 24,000 tons of lead, 4,000 tons of copper, 1.8 million oz. of silver and 14,500 oz. of gold.

Aripuaná consists of three main mineralized zones: Arex, Link and Ambrex. Additional targets include Massaranduba, Boroca and Mocoto to the southeast and Babaçu and Arpa to the northwest.

About Road to proEXPLO

Rumbo a proEXPLO 2023 (Road to proEXPLO 2023) is a series of activities prior to the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers, organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP) from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center, under the slogan "Discovering the Mining of the Future".

proEXPLO 2023: Descubriendo la Minería del Futuro

It is a challenge for society to achieve sustainable development within the limits imposed by nature. As part of society, it is a conviction for Confipetrol to strengthen the environmental management of its activities by offering a timely response to the needs of stakeholders and to the adaptation and mitigation of climate change, making the preservation and protection of the environment intrinsic values in the Operation and Maintenance service it provides to its partners.

To achieve this, the organization has charted a path towards sustainability through the implementation of the strategy: LIDER Operation "Incident and Damage Free in an Environment of Responsibility and Sustainability", whose pillar number 3 is "Responsible and Sustainable Environment" and deploys environmental management mechanisms (programs) leading to promote in services the efficient use and consumption of water and energy, the reduction and offsetting of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, the prevention of chemical risk and losses of containment of substances, the promotion of a Circular Economy and an ecological relationship with biodiversity.

This strategy is based on the sequential and systematic implementation of four important milestones: 1) Verification, which comprises the quantification and establishment of performance indexes associated with resources and materials of significant use consistent with ISO standards that facilitate their establishment; 2) Adaptation (resilience), from the continuous improvement and redesign of processes and practices by including operational and efficiency criteria in procedures, as well as the identification and prioritization of opportunities for technological improvement and inputs; 3) Reduction, through the integration of efficient and clean technologies in processes; 4) Offsetting, through projects with non-conventional renewable energies and reforestation (when necessary); and finally, 5) Neutrality, which is specifically focused on achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

proEXPLO 2023: Descubriendo la Minería del Futuro

Silvia Rosas Lizárraga, member of the Advisory Committee of the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2023), who holds a PhD and MSc in Mineralogy from the University of Heidelberg (Germany), and works as main professor and head of the Geological Engineering career at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), tells us in an interview about the advances that she identifies in geoscientific research in Peru and reflects on the challenges our country faces in order to optimize the training of professionals in the mining sector.

What is your opinion on the progress of geoscientific research in Peru?

In Peru, steps have been taken towards a relevant geoscientific activity of international scope, with productions being published in indexed journals in the English language, which gives global reach to the knowledge generated and, therefore, a scientific discussion leading to its advancement. These efforts include collaboration with relevant partners and institutions around the world, which has achieved both the participation of different schools of knowledge, as well as access to state-of-the-art analytical equipment that does not yet exist in Peru.

These efforts are, however, still insufficient and we are far from realities where scientific research, as described above, is a common task in the university environment.

As a university teacher, how much interest do you see in students in prospecting and exploration?

Naturally, I can give my opinion about the students of the institution where I work, where the graduate profile of the Geological Engineering degree is specifically aimed at exploration geology and mining development. It is a relatively young program, but it already has a certain number of graduates, most of whom work precisely in these areas, which demonstrates a priority interest in them.

What is needed for the new generations of Peruvian geologists to graduate at a good level and be at the forefront of this industry?

A training that includes research work such as those described above, thanks to which the active teaching staff is combined in the acquisition of knowledge with the active teaching staff in professional practice. This synergy provides the best training conditions for future industry professionals and an important factor is the participation of students in scientific research projects from the undergraduate level.

These conditions can be achieved as soon as our universities understand that the teaching staff must be composed of professors with advanced academic training, with graduate degrees obtained in relevant universities that guarantee it. Teachers with these characteristics will be able to make efficient and scientifically productive use of the funds from the mining industry, which benefit the national universities.

In recent years more professionals and technicians from the mining sector are migrating abroad to work. How to retain this talent?

Today, the labor market extends beyond the country's borders. Competitive professionals will have global opportunities. If these are not offered in the country, there is little that can be done to prevent emigration.

What would you say is the cause of the decrease in mining exploration in Peru?

There is a wide range of causes that have been widely mentioned and discussed by different relevant industry players. Four in particular can be highlighted: political uncertainty; the lack of long-term plans from the central, regional and local governments; bureaucratic barriers, which reduce our competitiveness in relation to other mining countries; and the increase in corruption in the country.

What are your expectations for proEXPLO 2023?

In addition to being a showcase for the country's great geological wealth and the many opportunities to enhance the country's mining potential, which allow for the sustainability of its economic growth, the event will address various strategic issues within the framework of the transition to renewable energies.

proEXPLO 2023 will have specific activities among which I would like to highlight the panel on higher education in geology, which will feature international participants with long experience in the field. I hope this allows our academic environment to reflect on the type of training we should provide to our future geology professionals, in order to make them locally and globally competitive.

proEXPLO 2023: Descubriendo la Minería del Futuro

As part of the activities towards proEXPLO 2023, the seminar "Mining of the Future: Diversity Makes Us More Competitive" will be held on April 12. "Good practices and tools", which will have simultaneous interpreting into English and is free of charge.

In the first block, the Peruvian leader of Nexa Resources' Empodera Group, Nery Monteza, will participate with the topic: Aripuanã experience and initiatives for inclusion and gender equity, and the vice-president of Human Resources for the Americas of Gold Fields, Verónica Valderrama, who will present the good practices of this outstanding gold producing company in terms of diversity and inclusion.

The second block will feature presentations by Aequales consultant Carolina Herrera-Cano, who will speak about the tools and practices that we can implement, and GenderLab consultant Ana Paula Hurtado, who will give a presentation on Peru and diversity: where we are, progress and perspectives. Facilitating conditions, common obstacles.

This seminar, which will allow participants to learn about successful inclusion experiences that benefit the competitive development of the mining industry, will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be transmitted through the Zoom platform, for which you can register at the following link: https://bit.ly/3MwujNz

Rumbo a proEXPLO 2023 (Road to proEXPLO 2023) is a series of activities prior to the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers, organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP) from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center, under the slogan "Discovering the Mining of the Future".

proEXPLO 2023: Descubriendo la Minería del Futuro

The International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers - proEXPLO 2023, an event organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, will present new advances of eight mining projects in the exploration stage and with broad geological potential in our country.

These are the Ayawilca (Tinka Resources), Soledad (Chakana Resources), Paraíso (Inversiones La Chalina), Malvas (Corporación Minera Toma La Mano), Cotabambas (Panoro Minerals), Reliquias (Silver Mountain Resources), Elida (Element 29) and Aurora (DLP Resources) projects.

"Cotabambas and Ayawilca are the most advanced projects. The first is in the pre-feasibility stage and estimates an investment of around US$ 1.4 billion; and the second is in the conceptual stage with an investment of US$ 264 million", highlighted Álvaro Fernández-Baca.

In terms of greenfield projects in early development, the Soledad and Elida projects stand out, both located in the department of Ancash, where the mineral explored is mainly copper, with a combined investment of approximately US$ 50 million.

"The aforementioned projects will be exhibited within the technical program of the event and their mineralized samples will be displayed in the Core Shack, a space to show not only photos and diagrams, but also the core specimens themselves," highlighted Ricardo Carrión.

It should be noted that proEXPLO 2023 will aim to share the latest advances in mineral exploration projects, encourage new investments in geological wealth, and strengthen links between prospectors, explorers and service providers.

The international meeting will be held in person from May 8 to 10 at the Lima Convention Center, located in the district of San Borja, offering the possibility of following the conferences, lectures and round tables in virtual mode.

After PERUMIN, proEXPLO is the most important mining event in Peru and the largest in the field of mining exploration and geology in Latin America, attracting the participation of 28 countries and 4,000 people in its previous edition in 2021.

About proEXPLO 2023

Due to its interesting conference program and the outstanding speakers, proEXPLO has become one of the main geological-mining events in Latin America and a must-attend meeting for companies and professionals working in the sector.

This year's edition of proEXPLO will have as its slogan "Discovering the mining of the future", and will feature 9 keynote speakers, 4 lectures and 2 round tables, 30 technical papers and a Core Shack area with the participation of 8 mining companies.

proEXPLO 2023: Descubriendo la Minería del Futuro

Enrique Garay, advisory member of the 13th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers, proEXPLO 2023, said that new copper exploration initiatives represent 47.6% of the Ministry of Energy and Mines' portfolio of mining exploration projects.

When consulted by La Noticia Perú, he remarked that Peru must take advantage of its position as the world's second largest copper producer to promote the discovery of deposits that meet the demand for this mineral, which is critical for the transition to a clean and reliable energy matrix.