The global energy transition is reshaping the strategic resource landscape. With its abundant reserves of copper, silver, and other critical minerals, Peru is poised to become a key player supporting the global electrification process over the next decade. Doris Schiappa-Gálvez, Chair of the 2026 World Mining Congress Project Committee, pointed out in an interview with Rumbo Minero TV that Peru's geological potential positions it as a strategic supplier against the backdrop of accelerating demand for clean energy metals. 
"Peru has these minerals. We play a strategic role in electrifying the planet," said Schiappa-Gálvez, emphasizing the central role of raw materials like copper and silver in renewable energy, power grids, energy storage, and the deployment of electric transportation. However, she also warned that time pressure is a major challenge for the industry. A copper mining project can take 20 to 30 years from exploration to production, while the window to meet growing demand is only about a decade.
In this context, the global mining industry may face a critical gap between supply and demand in the short term, forcing a rethinking of project development speed. According to Schiappa-Gálvez, the industry needs to double production while halving development time—an ambitious but necessary goal to avoid bottlenecks in the supply of critical minerals.
Peru holds a unique advantage in the new geopolitics of resources. Its mineral base is highly relevant to the technologies underpinning global economic decarbonization, providing an opportunity to solidify its position as a strategic supplier in the energy transition value chain. To fully realize its potential, the country must advance conditions that boost investor confidence, accelerate project approvals, and promote technological applications to enhance productivity without neglecting sustainability.
Schiappa-Gálvez emphasized that the current situation is a turning point for the mining industry. "The Congress comes at a historic moment. Mining has never been as necessary as it is today. The industry is called upon to supply the minerals that can electrify the planet," she stated. The World Mining Congress 2026 will be held in Lima from June 24 to 26 and is expected to be one of the premier international platforms for discussing the future of mining and its role in the energy transition. The event will bring together industry leaders to explore how to meet the unprecedented demand for critical minerals.
For Peru as the host country, the challenge lies in demonstrating that its geological potential can be translated into effective production capacity in the medium to short term, thereby consolidating its position in the global strategic minerals market.
