Why Mexico Needs a Mining Vision

In Mexico, working in mining can feel like sailing without a reliable map. The destination is clear, we know the value our industry can deliver, but the currents shift constantly, and the landmarks are often missing or misleading. As an OEM supporting mining operations across the country, I’ve learned to navigate through uncertainty, even as I continue to hope for a clearer course.

We are at a turning point. The world needs more copper than ever before, and Mexico has the potential to play a major role in that future. Yet, the absence of a clear national vision for mining and the increasing layers of political and operational complexity make it difficult for responsible players to plan long term. Still, many of us keep showing up, keep improving efficiency, and keep investing in people and technology. That’s the part I want to highlight: The work continues, and with the right signals, it could accelerate dramatically.

Copper, the Energy Future, and Mexico’s Missed Opportunity

Copper is no longer just a commodity. It’s a strategic resource, essential for the global shift toward electrification. From electric vehicles to renewable energy systems and expanded power grids, the world is building copper dependent infrastructure at an unprecedented pace. According to the International Energy Agency, demand for copper could double by 2040 under energy transition scenarios.

Mexico sits on vast untapped potential. Our country ranks among the Top 10 copper producers in the world. We have established mining corridors, ports, skilled labor, and proximity to major North American markets. Yet instead of leveraging these advantages, we are drifting. Delays in permitting, regulatory ambiguity, and frequent shifts in policy signal hesitation at best and skepticism at worst from government leadership.

That ambiguity doesn’t just affect mining companies. It affects the entire value chain, from local suppliers and OEMs to engineering firms and communities who depend on stable, well-paid industrial employment.

When Policy is Unclear, Industry Must Lead

The lack of long-term mining policy, or even consistent short-term guidance, makes it incredibly difficult to plan capital investments, secure financing, or commit to local hiring and training. Companies are forced to price in uncertainty, and some simply choose to invest elsewhere. Others, particularly those of us already established in Mexico, look for ways to adapt.

And that’s where I find hope. Because despite the challenges, there are many professionals, companies, and communities that continue to move forward. We are not waiting for the perfect conditions to take action. We’re taking leadership roles on the ground, with the tools we have.

In the absence of clear signals from the government, our strategy has been to focus on things we can control, building technical capacity, improving reliability, and maximizing the performance of existing infrastructure.

At TAKRAF Mexico, for instance, we’re working directly with mine operators to reduce equipment downtime through revamps, refurbishments, and modernization services. We are investing in the technical training of local personnel so that they can inspect and maintain complex assets, from thickeners to conveyors, with greater autonomy and precision. We’re implementing service plans tailored to each mine’s operational reality, not generic checklists.

We are also partnering with other global OEMs to ensure that the technologies deployed in Mexican mines are not just cost-effective but aligned with environmental and social goals. And in many cases, we are helping clients extend the life of equipment, reduce water and energy consumption, and improve site safety, all without the need for new permitting or massive capital outlays.

This type of work might not grab headlines, but it makes a difference. It keeps production going. It retains local jobs. It prevents accidents. And it helps Mexico remain competitive even in a time of policy paralysis.

What Mexico Needs Now

None of this is to say we don’t need national leadership. We do, and urgently. Mexico must decide if it wants to play a central role in the global copper economy or continue letting uncertainty erode its standing.

To do that, we need a clear mining vision, one that aligns the interests of communities, companies, and government. That vision must include:

• Transparent and predictable permitting processes

• Fair and stable taxation

• Collaboration between public institutions and private industry

• Recognition of the role mining plays in a low-carbon economy

This isn’t about asking for favors or shortcuts. It’s about having rules that are known in advance, that don’t change mid-project, and that allow for responsible actors to plan investments with confidence.

As industry leaders, we’re more than willing to be part of that conversation. We’re already contributing in tangible ways through training, investment, and a constant commitment to safety and performance. But our efforts would be magnified if they were backed by a coordinated national strategy.

Mining is a long game. Projects take years to develop, and their impacts last for generations. That’s why short-term ambiguity can be so costly and why long-term clarity is so valuable.

While we wait for that clarity, we won’t stop. We’ll keep training, keep fixing what needs fixing, keep building bridges across regions and institutions. Our mission is bigger than a single administration or moment in history. The energy transition will not wait. And neither will we.

So yes, we are still here. Still working. Still hoping. But more than anything, we are ready to help Mexico claim the place it deserves in the global mining landscape.