More Companies Interested in Exploring Puebla’s Mining Potential
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More Companies Interested in Exploring Puebla’s Mining Potential

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Karin Dilge By Karin Dilge | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Mon, 10/31/2022 - 10:00

According to the Ministry of Economy (SE), the number of international mining companies interested in exploring Puebla grew by 100 percent, the majority of the players being Canadian. Their main objectives are to start gold and silver production.

Nonetheless, companies from Peru, China and the US are also allocating economic and human resources to study the soil of the region. Until this moment, only a few corporations have received permits for the exploitation and extraction of minerals, as the federal government’s reforms to the mining bureaucracy stall the rest. 

Over the past two years, mining concessions granted in the state of Puebla have dropped from 326 registered at the SE in 2019 to only 310 in 2021, according to the Institute of Management, Administration and Municipal Liaison. This represents a 25 percent decrease in surface granted to mining companies.

In addition, only 229 of the 310 concessions remain valid after 2021. Nevertheless, Puebla ranks 17th among Mexican states with the most concessions that will be valid after 2050, with 212 remaining active. A key example is a concession granted in Tulcingo to Santino Construction and Associates, which has a surface of around 29,000ha valid until 2064.

Furthermore, according to the Mexican Geological Survey (SGM), there are 12 possible lithium reserves in Puebla. The potential presence of lithium in eight municipalities has caused concerns for both municipal and state authorities, which said that they aim to prevent people from buying up land in the hopes that it will gain value since Puebla is considered to be the second-largest Mexican in terms of lithium reserves. “Investors go and buy land and after that, they carry out activities to find this lithium. We will keep an eye on it along with municipal authorities,” said Miguel Barbosa, the Governor of Puebla.

In 2012, there were only four companies with concessions for the exploration of mines, of which Almaden Minerals was the main player. The Canada-based company found gold and silver in the Ixtacamaxititlán, Ixcamilpa and Talpizaco-Tateno districts. Moreover, it has four subsidiaries: Minera Gorrión, ATW Resources, Puebla Holdings and Compañía Minera Zapata. 

The other three companies with operations in Puebla are Starcore International Mines, Chesapeake Gold and Minaurum Gold. Starcore International discovered huge reserves of silver, lead and zinc while Chesapeake Gold focused on searching for gold and silver. Finally, Mianurum Gold received permits for gold exploration.

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