en.Wedoany.com Reported - A joint investigation shows that the number of copper mining permits in Colombia and Argentina is rapidly increasing to meet the surge in copper demand driven by the global energy transition, with a supply shortage expected by 2035.
Dialogue Earth, in collaboration with Climate Tracker, Mongabay, and El Espectador, found that Colombia currently has 201 active copper mining permits, with another 746 applications under review. Meanwhile, Argentina has 76 active copper mining permits.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development notes that the energy transition is "fundamentally mineral-intensive." Copper is an indispensable material for key technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and power transmission networks.
According to the International Energy Agency, due to "limited resource discoveries and long lead times for new projects," the world could face a copper supply gap of approximately 30% by 2035.
Ana Carolina González, Latin America Director of the Natural Resources Governance Institute, stated that this outlook places Latin America in an "interesting" position. Argentina and Colombia are advancing dozens of projects to accelerate extraction. Geologist José Cabello, with over 50 years of experience in Latin America, noted that geologists increasingly view Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil as high-potential copper mining regions. He added that while these countries' production is not expected to surpass regional giants like Chile and Peru, they are becoming increasingly important global destinations for copper exploration and future supply growth.
Both the Colombian and Argentine governments emphasize the environmental and social responsibility of their mining sectors. Argentina's new Chief of Cabinet, Diego Santilli, stressed the need for "responsible mining" in early July, a concept also supported at the provincial level. Colombia's outgoing President Gustavo Petro supports what his government describes as mining projects that are consulted with communities and environmentally certified.
As Latin America races to capitalize on growing copper demand, conflicts between miners and local communities may arise. An analysis of satellite imagery shows that many proposed copper mining sites in both countries are located in environmentally sensitive areas or on community lands.
In Colombia, the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) highlights the country's geological potential for copper, but the country currently has only one operating copper mine, with another recently obtaining the necessary environmental permit for construction. Cabello stated that discoveries of deposits like Taca Taca and Josemaría in Argentina indicate enormous production potential, with these large-scale prospects potentially rivaling the world's largest copper deposit, Chuquicamata, in northern Chile. However, Argentina's only currently active copper mine is Martín Bronce in the north, with minimal production, and copper accounts for just 1.7% of the country's total mineral exports.
Argentina's Incentive Scheme for Major Investments (Rigi) aims to compensate for this shortfall by providing tax breaks for developers of large projects. According to data from the Rigi Observatory coalition, of the 36 applications submitted to the scheme in the past two years, 20 are mining projects, five of which are copper development projects, including Los Azules and the Vicuña project. The Vicuña project is one of Argentina's largest mining investments in recent years.
Ana Carolina González pointed out that as global existing copper deposits are depleted, copper ore grades are also declining. According to data from mining giant BHP, ore grades have fallen by 40% since 1991. She explained that this means larger land areas are needed to achieve the same production levels as before. The expansion of mining boundaries will put greater pressure on environmentally sensitive areas. The Global Atlas of Environmental Justice shows that nearly one-third of recorded conflicts in South America are related to mining activities.
In Colombia, data from the National Mining Agency (ANM) shows that 37% of the country's potential copper mining sites overlap with "secondary forest reserve areas" that restrict mining activities, while "exclusion zones" where mining is prohibited account for 22%. The analysis also found that at least 118 active copper mining permits overlap with environmentally important areas, with 24 located in "exclusion zones" where mining should be prohibited.
At least three active permits are located in areas identified and designated as páramo ecosystems. According to Colombia's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente), these areas regulate the water cycle that supplies water to over 70% of Colombia's population. Their importance has been legally recognized since 1993, but they were only formally designated as mining-prohibited zones in 2011.
In Argentina, cross-referenced data shows that at least 21 mining projects operate within five areas protected by international agreements and national and provincial regulations. Among these, the San Guillermo Protected Area in the western province of San Juan has the highest number of projects. This national park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, currently hosting five mining projects, including the Josemaría and Filo del Sol deposits of the Vicuña project, operated by Lundin Mining and BHP, respectively. Another ten projects overlap with or are located near glacial landforms, which are defined by Argentina's Institute of Snow, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences (Ianigla) as crucial for glacial ecosystems. Most of these projects are in San Juan province, which hosts 16 copper mining companies, including one of the most advanced projects, Los Azules.
Leandro Gómez, Coordinator of the Investment and Rights Program at the Argentine Foundation for the Environment and Natural Resources (Farn), noted that Argentina's Glacier Law once prevented development near glaciers but has been relaxed to facilitate mineral extraction.
As of mid-May, Colombia's only operating copper mine is El Roble in the biodiversity-rich Chocó department, accounting for 85% of the country's copper production, with the remainder as a byproduct of gold mining. In mid-May, the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA) approved the El Alacrán project in northern Córdoba department, the final permit needed to begin construction. According to a feasibility study, the mine contains "probable" mineral reserves of 98 million tonnes of copper, gold, and silver. The company operating the project, CMH Colombia, claims the mine is expected to process 17,000-20,000 tonnes of ore per day, approximately 20 times the processing capacity of El Roble.
Hundreds of other projects are at various stages across Colombia. Public records analysis reveals at least 210 active medium and large-scale mining permits involving copper nationwide, concentrated mainly in Antioquia (77), Chocó (51), Bolívar (22), La Guajira (14), and Córdoba (11) departments. Of these, one is in the preliminary technical assessment stage, 89 in exploration, 17 in construction and commissioning, and 103 in production. Interest in new projects has accelerated significantly over the past decade, with nearly 332 applications submitted in 2021 and 2022 alone. Currently, at least 746 active applications for copper are being evaluated by mining authorities.
In Argentina, copper exploration is concentrated around the Andes, with at least 77 projects, of which 68 are in exploration or pre-exploration stages, eight have entered the post-exploration stage, and one is in production. Most projects are located in Salta (46) and San Juan (16) provinces.
Regarding the overlap between mining projects and community lands, the analysis shows that at least 94 mining permits involving copper in Colombia overlap with indigenous reserves, Afro-Colombian community councils, and peasant reserve zones. Within 30 indigenous reserves, concessions covering over 69,000 hectares have been granted, with the majority (77%) located on Embera lands. In Argentina, the provinces where copper projects are located are home to over 110 indigenous communities. The country has recognized indigenous lands since 1994, but boundaries have not been clearly defined. Of the 76 projects listed by the Mining Secretariat, 47 are less than 50 kilometers from indigenous territories, with three less than 4 kilometers away. This investigation did not determine whether indigenous communities have been adequately consulted.
China, the United States, and the European Union are all seeking to strengthen their presence in resource-rich Latin America. Chinese companies have invested in numerous projects, and China's latest policy document on Latin America and the Caribbean expresses a desire to cooperate on clean energy and enhancing the green development of mineral resources. David Castrillón-Kerrigan, who studies the impact of Chinese foreign policy at Externado University of Colombia, noted that China's interest is not new, but changes in China's economic structure have driven demand for critical minerals, such as the rapid development of the electric vehicle industry. In 2025, the EU stated that its copper demand could increase by over 50% by 2050, emphasizing Latin America's strategic importance in securing supplies of transition materials. US President Donald Trump has also ordered officials to reach bilateral agreements to secure supplies of copper and other metals, aiming for "imports not dependent on foreign adversaries."
Ana Carolina González stated that Latin America has made progress in regulatory frameworks, but periods of political instability could put relevant standards at risk. She warned that if countries fail to agree on maintaining minimum standards, a "race to the bottom" could occur, leading to relaxed regulations to attract investment. She added that countries should firmly uphold standards and require projects to create added value and promote local development, while also questioning the source of demand, as it stems not only from energy issues but also from artificial intelligence and military applications. She stated that if minerals continue to be demanded at current levels, no ecosystem can withstand it.
