CLUSMIN Drafting Mining Roadmap of Zacatecas

Q: What are the main objectives of the Committee for Innovation and Technology Development?

A: Its main objective is to create a forum for discussion and action where companies can talk about technological challenges, which mining companies deal with every day. Some of the more pressing issues are related to high energy consumption, mineral processing, and the water required for mineral extraction. These issues and challenges are discussed, along with possible solutions, within the Committee for Innovation and Technology Development. We have been working with the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and other higher education institutions to define a concrete profile for students, and we have molded Earth science curricula at major colleges to fit the industry’s needs. We also work closely with research centers across Mexico to find solutions for the complex operating challenges that occur in mining, including how to deal with high temperatures, water scarcity, and many other factors. The committee also provides a place for companies to share their successes.

Q: You are also Director General of the Zacatecas Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation (COZCyT). To what extent are the objectives of these two entities aligned?

A: Their objectives naturally align. COZCyT aims to foster the development of science and technology through skillbuilding and human talent, while seeking to promote a culture of innovation that directly impacts the local economy. The economic development of the traditional mining model ends once the company leaves; this is something that we want to avoid, leading us to follow the triple helix model. This involves a link between government, companies, and educational institutions to create sustainable development models that do not depend on the sole presence of a mining company. One of the Council’s missions is to foment scientific research, which includes innovation and regional development, in order to truly integrate every part of science and technology. This is where COZCyT and CLUSMIN’s objectives truly converge.

Q: What are the areas in which CLUSMIN identifies the greatest opportunity to help mining suppliers find solutions to common problems?

A: The mining industry requires water and energy, the two resources that Zacatecas lacks. This poses a great technological challenge that threatens the life expectancy of many mines. There are companies that are planning on bringing water from other states to fulfill their requirements, but this will obviously increase their operating costs. There are even cases in which mining companies end up competing with local communities for water. Comparatively, there are examples of companies and communities working together to obtain the precious resource, such as Fresnillo, which pumps water out of its mine, sends it to its water treatment facility, and hands it over to the community. Energy is another pressing issue since Zacatecas is not an energy producer. The energy that mining companies consume is expensive because it comes from other states. We are starting a pilot program at one of the state’s mines to identify energy efficiency solutions. Many mining operations are also studying renewable energy options.

Q: How has the formation of CLUSMIN impacted the competitiveness of Zacatecas within the Mexican mining industry?

A: CLUSMIN’s influence on the competitiveness of the local mining industry has been huge. It is one of the best clusters in the country and has yielded notable results due to two factors. The first factor is that the cluster has persuaded international companies to set up subsidiaries in the region. These companies see Zacatecas both as a place to sell equipment and a place to establish a hub of operations for the Latin American market incidentally. Zacatecas is now a manufacturing hub for mining equipment through the cluster. The second factor pertains to the many requirements mining companies have when establishing themselves somewhere. It is impossible for them to import everything, which is why they need local suppliers. The stepping up of such suppliers in Zacatecas is now bearing a direct influence on local economic growth. For the state government, one of CLUSMIN’s mandates is to foster economic development, which means supporting all of these new suppliers. This is a big challenge for CLUSMIN because we have to figure out how to help the cluster-born suppliers to become professional and competitive enough to respond to global mining market needs.