No Mining Law Changes; Mexico to Recover 200 Mining Concessions

President Claudia Sheinbaum ruled out any change in the mining legislation derived from the Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals signed with the United States. President Sheinbaum stressed that any further agreements must respect both nations’ sovereignty. When questioned whether or not the Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals would result in changes to the Mexican mining legislation, President Sheinbaum said that the legislation will not be changed. She emphasized that conversations are in preliminary stages.

President Sheinbaum outlined that any potential dialogue will be guided by the principle of sovereignty, meaning that research and exploration will be conducted independently within each country’s respective borders, she stressed.

Sheinbaum identified gold and silver as critical minerals due to their essential role in the production of electronics and their limited global availability. She called for a fair trade model for these resources to prevent market concentration and ensure equitable access worldwide. President Sheinbaum said that Mexico intends to maintain its current precious metal output under the best possible conditions while utilizing existing international treaties for commercialization. The priority remains the protection of natural resources and maintaining a sovereign exploration strategy rather than entering into joint-operational processes with foreign partners.

Government to Recover Mining Concessions

President Sheinbaum stressed that the Mexican government does not intend to hand over the national resources and that new mines will not be opened. “We have it very clear that natural resources cannot be handed over, and we will not open new mines. It is actually the opposite; we are in the process of getting back over 200 mining concessions,” she clarified. 

According to Sheinbaum, the recovery of these mining titles is being conducted as a voluntary process between the Mexican State and the private holders. Sheinbaum explained that these concessions, which were previously granted to various companies, have remained unproductive and inactive for a significant period. By returning these titles to the government, the administration aims to prevent speculative land holding and ensure that unused resources revert to public control. 

She compared this initiative to the management of water concessions, where resources that are not being utilized for their intended purpose should be returned to the State to prevent waste and territorial clutter. Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard is scheduled to provide a detailed report in the coming days regarding the technical specifics, legal status, and geographical locations of these recovered areas. 

Strategic Alignment and Regional Sovereignty

Industry experts suggest that a proactive alignment strategy could further unlock investments and technology without ceding sovereignty. Adrián Juárez, CEO, CTA Consultoría y Tecnología Ambiental, argues that Latin American nations can capitalize on the US’ urgency to diversify supply chains by negotiating reciprocal bilateral agreements. Juárez suggests that such frameworks should demand commitments for joint ventures (JVs) and infrastructure development, insisting on technology transfer to move from raw material exports to value-added processing.

Juárez also highlights the importance of regional collaboration and stable regulatory environments. He identifies a strategic opportunity in forming coalitions among leading producers, such as copper and lithium alliances, to increase regional influence. However, he warns that current mining reforms must balance ESG criteria with industrial viability.