Chihuahua Announces Five Potential Mining Projects

The state of Chihuahua has announced five new potential mining projects may start operating soon. It already has 16 large-scale operational mining units, mainly in the west and south-central regions.

Three mining projects have advanced to begin open operations and another two are in process of development. The Samalayuca Cobre prospect is in the north of the state and the rest is located in the mountain range.

Aída Valles Cháves, Mining Director, the Ministry of Innovation and Economic Development of Chihuahua, said the federal government's delays regarding permits caused a  certain degree of uncertainty. Nevertheless, mining units are doing what they need to do to gain such permits.

In the next few months, industry insiders are expecting some of the permitting issues to be resolved, making it possible to announce possible opening dates. 

Pablo Méndez Alvídrez, President of the Chihuahua Mining Cluster said the organization works closely with the state government to attract mining investment. He said they are set to participate together to promote Chihuahua in the biggest mining convention in Toronto, Canada, together with local mining authorities. 

Gerardo Durán, Director General, Chihuahua Mining Cluster, explained that 94 percent of the mining activity is concentrated in the central and southern regions of the state, clustered in 20 municipalities. Of these 20 districts, 15 are affiliated with the cluster, and five represent 9.45 percent of the nation’s metals production. Durán mentioned that 312,000 inhabitants directly or indirectly benefit from mining activities, as the sector has created 20,493 direct jobs.

Recently, The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported that the cumulative value of three-quarters of mining production in the state of Chihuahua rose to MX$37 billion (US$1.8 billion).

According to INEGI, the figure registered before September 2022 represents 4 percent of the state’s GDP. Chihuahua’s mining production is the third largest in Mexico. Moreover, it occupies second place in silver and lead production, third place in zinc, fourth in copper production and fifth in gold production. 

In the state of Chihuahua, silver production stood at 120.7 tons, representing 21.4 percent of Mexico’s production and 2,849 tons of lead were produced representing 12.7 percent of the total. Zinc production stood at 6,336 tons, in third place with 10.3 percent of the total.