en.Wedoany.com Reported - Argentina's state-owned enterprise Yacimientos Mineros Agua de Dionisio (YMAD) has initiated a process to seek strategic partners to advance a new round of exploration in the Peirano block in Catamarca Province. Preliminary geological studies suggest the block may host deposits comparable in scale to Bajo de la Alumbrera, with the introduction of potential investors expected to be completed in the second half of 2026 or early 2027.

YMAD President Fernando Jalil announced that the company's primary goal is to bring in a partner capable of providing funding and supporting large-scale exploration activities. Geological assessments indicate the area could potentially host deposits similar to Alumbrera or vein-type mineralization comparable to Farallón Negro, though this hypothesis requires confirmation through new drilling and exploration work.

The Peirano block is one of the core mining assets managed by YMAD, encompassing the historic Bajo de la Alumbrera deposit, whose extraction drove the development of metal mining in Catamarca Province for over two decades. The company's current strategy is to deepen understanding of the area's geology to identify new copper, gold, and silver resources.

The search for partners is part of YMAD's new-phase plan, aimed at developing projects that can sustain mining activity following the conclusion of Alumbrera operations. At present, YMAD is in dialogue with domestic and international potential investors regarding participation in the exploration program.

Jalil emphasized that this partner introduction is independent of infrastructure utilization related to the MARA project and other Alumbrera-related activities, with work efforts focused entirely on exploring the geological potential of the Peirano block. Meanwhile, YMAD will continue to participate in the MARA project development through infrastructure leasing, with the facilities to be used for ore processing, although the company is not a member of that joint venture. This arrangement enables YMAD to maintain an operational connection with one of the most significant copper projects currently in Catamarca Province.

The subsequent exploration aims to generate new geological information to assess the block's economic potential and determine next-step development plans. If expectations are confirmed, YMAD's project portfolio is expected to gain a new large-scale metal mining asset.