Mining Laws Split in State Presence, Private Models in LATAM

Latin American mining regulations are undergoing a fundamental transformation as nations seek greater control over strategic resources. The region has reached a regulatory crossroads, with a distinct divide emerging between countries implementing heavier state intervention and those loosening restrictions to favor private-sector-led models. In other news, China’s planned halt of sulfuric acid exports in May is expected to force copper smelters to cut output while driving up costs for mining and agriculture. 

Ready for more? This is your Weekly RoundUp! 

LATAM Mining Split Between State Control, Market Incentives

The recent approval of Venezuela’s 2026 Organic Mining Law has established a new legal framework for the country’s mining sector. This shift suggests that Latin American nations are increasingly prioritizing the strategic value of their mineral assets amid global supply chain reconfigurations, particularly as the United States seeks to decouple critical mineral sources from China. 

J2 Metals Developing Mexico’s Next Major Silver Discovery

Thomas Lamb, CEO, J2 Metals, details how the company is advancing the Sierra Plata silver-antimony project in Mexico’s Zacualpan Royal Mines district through a partnership with Impact Silver. The company aims to capitalize on rising silver prices and the critical demand for antimony while maintaining its gold portfolio in Quebec and Alaska.

Hormuz Closure Squeezes Copper via Global Acid Crunch

Ivanhoe Mines founder and Co-Chairman Robert Friedland has cautioned that an extended shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz stands to severely disrupt global supply networks, placing copper producers under mounting pressure as the cost of sulphur and sulphuric acid climbs and availability tightens.

Silverco Targets Late 2026 Restart for Past-Producing Cusi Mine

Canada-based silver producer Silverco Mining announced the results of an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the restart of the Cusi Mine in Chihuahua. The study outlines a low-capital restart plan for the existing underground mine, projecting an initial mine life of approximately nine years with a steady-state throughput of 1,200t/d.

United States Targets Mexico’s Energy, Lithium Monopolies

Mexico's energy rules, lithium policy, and customs reforms are drawing scrutiny from US trade negotiators ahead of the joint USMCA review scheduled for July, according to an analysis by the Legislative Observatory on Global Affairs of Mexico's Chamber of Deputies.

Sonoro Gold Expands Cerro Caliche With New Concessions

Canada-based precious and base metals company Sonoro Gold announced the acquisition of the Diana mineral concession in Sonora. The transaction expands the footprint of the company’s flagship Cerro Caliche project by 51ha, bringing the total number of contiguous concessions to 26.

China Sulfuric Acid Ban Tightens Supply, Raises Risks for Mexico

China’s planned halt of sulfuric acid exports from May is expected to push copper smelters to cut output while tightening global supply of the chemical, raising costs across mining, agriculture, and industrial sectors already strained by disruptions linked to the Iran war. The restriction, which will cover sulfuric acid produced as a byproduct of copper and zinc smelting, threatens to remove a key revenue stream for Chinese smelters while exacerbating a global shortage driven by constrained sulfur shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.