To learn from the best, today more than ever.

Argentina continues living an unprecedented mining growth, same growth that in

some way kept us busy during most of the time since the current crisis started.
Even though we cannot forget that this boom was mainly powered by investments
committed a long time ago, reality shows that the sector has grown in most of the
economic indicators: production level, exports, investments, and also in others
more tangible for any spectator, such as the number of operating mines.
An example is Gualcamayo, in San Juan province, the youngest mine of the
Canadian miner Yamana, that declared commencement of its commercial
production in July 2009, was later inaugurated in September with a complete panel
of authorities, including the President of Argentina.
How singular is the case of Argentina with respect of
other countries of the region? We could say that it
depends, an answer widely used in many circumstances
but quite true this time. If we analyze from the viewpoint
of the potential, we are in a privileged condition.
According to the 2008/2009 Mining companies Survey
from the Fraser Institute, Argentina’s place with the
assumption of current potential an best practices is 25th,
only placing after two fellow Latin-Americans, Peru and
Mexico. Now, when the evaluation includes the geological
potential with the current mining policy in place, we fall to
the 59th spot, before countries that have serious problems in the development of
mining. The difference in ranks clearly shows the missed potential.
In other Latin American countries similar situations appear, for many causes. Last
September, during the first edition of the Latin Exploration 2009 conference, we
could see that even some of the countries considered as best on this type of
rankings, experience complications for reasons such as access to tenements, lack of
governmental support, inefficiency in communication good practices, lack of
coordination between the sector and the government, lack of cohesion and feeling
of oneness as a group, difficulties in attracting investment, among the most
common. Inversely, Mexico was exemplifies as one of the countries where work is
being done more efficiently.
It was clear during the presentations that the continent as a whole, both in
countries with policies close to the annihilation of the mining sector, as Ecuador or
Bolivia, or the usual top listings in rankings, a common weakness is shared:
inappropriate communication and diffusion of the activity, and the resultant
difficulty in obtaining the social license to operate. This is without a doubt a
fundamental factor if mining is to be empowered in the region and in each country.

Contact Us:
Agustín Álvarez 1348 Barrio Arizu, Godoy Cruz M5501BFB, Mendoza, Argentina.
Tel / Fax: +54 (261) 4243479 - info@argentinamining.com - www.argentinamining.com
 But the final note is positive. Latin America remains a
destiny of interest for exploration, due to many reasons,
such as its huge geological potential, political stability in
many countries, personal safety, available communication
and infrastructure, among others. Hence, in the best
benchmarking strategy –understood as a business
practice- we can seize the priceless opportunity to learn
from our brother and neighboring countries.
One caveat though: let us only learn the good.

Contact Us:
Agustín Álvarez 1348 Barrio Arizu, Godoy Cruz M5501BFB, Mendoza, Argentina.
Tel / Fax: +54 (261) 4243479 - info@argentinamining.com - www.argentinamining.com