Argentina's MARA Copper Project Submits Development-Stage Environmental Impact Assessment, Investment of US$4.5 Billion

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The MARA copper project operated by Glencore has submitted its development-stage Environmental Impact Report (IIA) to the Mining Department of Catamarca Province. The project integrates the Agua Rica copper-gold deposit with the existing Alumbrera mine infrastructure. The IIA submitted this time covers the environmental and social impacts and management measures from project development and operation through to mine closure, advancing the project from the previous advanced exploration and feasibility study stage into the provincial development environmental review process.

MARA previously applied in August 2025 to be included in Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), declaring an investment of approximately US$4.5 billion. According to official project disclosures, the construction phase is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs. MARA's current core development plan is to mine the Agua Rica deposit and utilize Alumbrera's existing processing and related infrastructure as much as possible to reduce the scope of new large-scale processing facilities.

The project is currently still at the feasibility study and approval stage. According to MARA's official website, the project has already obtained the administrative and judicial permits required for advanced exploration and has carried out geological metallurgical, geotechnical and other on-site work to provide data for completing the feasibility study. Following the submission of this development-stage IIA, the next key milestone is the completion of technical and environmental review by the competent authorities of Catamarca Province and the issuance of the corresponding environmental approval documents; main mine construction has not yet commenced.

The MARA engineering plan centers on the integration of the Agua Rica open-pit mine with Alumbrera's existing processing system. According to publicly available project information, ore will be transported from the Agua Rica pit to a primary crushing facility, then conveyed via an overland conveyor system to the Alumbrera processing plant. The plan includes approximately 5.2 km of tunnel and approximately 35 km of conveyor belt, with the processing system targeting an ore feed capacity of approximately 42 million tonnes per year.

Alumbrera's existing assets are also being restored in parallel. According to MARA's official September materials, Glencore has confirmed the restart of Alumbrera operations and plans to resume production in the second half of 2027. These assets will serve as an important processing and infrastructure platform for MARA's subsequent development.

As of August 2026, MARA's workforce at relevant operating sites in Catamarca Province has increased to 1,844 people, up by 735 from 1,109 at the beginning of the year, of which 575 new positions were filled by local Catamarca personnel. The total number of local employees has reached 1,484, accounting for 80.5% of the project's current workforce. These positions mainly serve the current exploration, engineering preparation, Alumbrera restoration and preparation for subsequent project development, and do not indicate that MARA's main construction has been fully launched.