Federal Government Shows Openness Toward Mining: AIMMGM

Companies are perceiving a more open stance toward mining, with the government starting to listen to its main concerns, says AIMMG. Optimism comes despite ongoing challenges, including the Mining Law reform, the potential ban on open-pit mining, and the halt on new concessions.

Rubén del Pozo, President, AIMMGM, said that the association has observed a more open stance from federal and local authorities in addressing the main challenges facing the mining sector as it works to prioritize the industry's key concerns. He said the association aims to gather with member states’ ministries of economic development to start working on better-informed policy-making. Del Pozo said that, so far, the ministers of Guerrero, Zacatecas, Chihuahua, and Sonora have confirmed their willingness to participate in such talks. 

For AIMMGM, one of the main concerns is the need for more exploration, as this is the foundation of every mining project, which if halted, could result in Mexico being a mineral importer rather than being self-sufficient in the next 10 years. “For every ton of mineral extracted, there must be at least 1t of reserves created. This ensures we remain within a continuous cycle that must not be disrupted, as any interruption would put the mine's viability at risk,” del Pozo noted, urging for increased exploration, as he said that greater investment in exploration would improve Mexico's chances of developing more mines.

As for the Mining Law reform, del Pozo said the sector has found openness to discuss potential adjustments to the reform enacted by former President López Obrador. He said that some have voiced the possibility of issuing a new Mining Law reform. However, he said this has not been officially proposed. "So far, we welcome the willingness to make adjustments, which is already a positive step for us. It would be ideal to have the opportunity to work together on designing a new law,” del Pozo added. 

Del Pozo also highlighted President Claudia Sheinbaum’s openness to reviewing the open-pit mining ban, explaining that companies do not choose how to mine minerals; the extraction method depends on the grades and geological conditions. He further noted that open-pit mining is typically used for low-grade minerals, like copper, whose grades are widely dispersed along a mining project.  

He emphasized the importance of including industry insiders when formulating public policies, noting that their informed perspective is crucial. He highlighted that the government understood this point, as the proposed ban on open-pit mining could ultimately lead to a ban on lithium extraction, as well as other materials like salt, iron, and construction materials.