- August 16, 2024.
Launching an exploration project can take up to 4 years
This is due to paperwork and permits that can take two years, as well as prior consultation and further negotiations.
Lima, August 16, 2024. Walter Tejada, president of proEXPLO 2025, commented that starting a mining exploration project in Peru can take up to 4 years due to the extensive paperwork and permits required. This was stated at the recent Jueves Minero (Mining Thursday) of the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP).
This process, which includes prior consultation and obtaining various permits, can take up to two years, representing a significant challenge for investors and explorers. “There is a strong component of permits in prior consultation, negotiations and surface rights,” said Tejada.
Furthermore, Tejada pointed out that, despite Peru's considerable geological potential and rich mining tradition, the country faces a long bureaucratic road to get new projects underway. “Peru's mining cadaster is one of the most accessible and complete worldwide, I believe we have the best cadaster in the world, with online information that facilitates access to geological data,” said Tejada.
However, recent changes in regulations have led to a loss of competitiveness. Tejada noted that the time required to start an exploration project can vary between 3 and 4 years, due to complex procedures related to permits, prior consultation and negotiations for surface rights. This long and complicated route translates into a considerable investment for entrepreneurs in the sector.
To improve this situation, Tejada proposes that a "Ventanilla Única Digital" be implemented more quickly to simplify the permitting process. It also suggests revising and streamlining the technical datasheet and reducing the rigidity of permits through mechanisms such as administrative silence. These reforms could facilitate the start-up of new projects and help recover competitiveness in the Peruvian mining sector.
About proEXPLO
The International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers - proEXPLO has been organized by the IIMP since 1999 and is one of the main geological-mining meetings in Latin America. Its fourteenth edition will be held from May 5 to 7, 2025 at the Lima Convention Center, chaired by Walter Tejada, Exploration Manager of BHP in Peru, and under the theme “Discovering mineral resources for a better world”.
