en.Wedoany.com Reported - Diego Ortega, President of the 16th International Mining Conference, stated that against the international backdrop of growing demand for critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy transition, and increasingly fierce global capital competition, Peru must act with a greater sense of urgency to transform its mining potential into development, investment, and regional leadership.
In his closing remarks at the mining conference organized by the National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy (SNMPE), Ortega emphasized that this year's event provided ideas, identified priorities, and promoted actions and decisions for the future of Peruvian mining. He pointed out that the conference theme, "Mining Integration, Building the Present, Transforming the Future," must be translated into an execution agenda, contributing practical and feasible solutions for the development of mining and the nation.
He recalled that the conference began with a core idea: the world is facing not just a new mineral cycle, but a global transformation. Mining discussions now encompass topics such as geopolitics, artificial intelligence, energy security, and value chains. Ortega warned that the pace of global change is outstripping the capacity of Peru's existing structures to respond, and that the country possesses a historic opportunity, but it is not guaranteed.
In this context, as companies accelerate innovation and technological adaptation, Peru needs to speed up permit approvals, improve infrastructure, and strengthen institution-building and public management capacity. Ortega stressed that competitiveness is a race that has already begun, and leadership depends on execution capability. He also highlighted the importance of thinking about mining from a regional perspective, noting that Latin America produces a significant portion of the world's copper, and if actions can be coordinated with a sense of urgency, this advantage can be transformed into leadership.
Regarding artificial intelligence, he explained that the technology is no longer just a tool but has become a new operating system that will change the way we produce, compete, and make decisions. Therefore, for Peru to remain an attractive destination for mining investment, it must accelerate permit approvals, infrastructure construction, institution-building, and public management capacity enhancement. On the energy agenda, Ortega stated that the focus of discussions has expanded from energy transition to energy security, reinforcing the need to accelerate investment and expand the supply of critical minerals.
In terms of infrastructure, Ortega believes that development is impossible without infrastructure, and Peru's logistical challenges are not merely an industry issue but a national challenge that directly affects competitiveness, regional integration, and opportunity creation. He also pointed out that transformation is impossible without talent, and the mining transformation requires the full utilization of technology. While global demand for critical minerals grows, Peru faces the enormous challenge of combating illegal mining activities, which destroy ecosystems, breed violence, and undermine institution-building. Ortega made it clear that attempts to normalize illegal mining practices cannot be tolerated.
He asserted that Peru can offer the world minerals produced in a formal, responsible manner that meets high standards. He concluded by emphasizing that defending formal mining means defending decent employment, responsible investment, environmental standards, and real opportunities for millions of Peruvians, and stated that dialogue must now shift to action.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
