MinEner Editor 
As part of Cesco Week, one of the most prominent gatherings for the mining industry in Latin America, the Forum on Excellence in Mining Project Management brought together senior leaders from major companies to reflect on current and future challenges facing the sector. A unanimous message emerged from the forum: collaboration across the mining ecosystem
Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar elements that play an outsized role in modern technologies, from smartphones to renewable energy systems. The group includes the 15 lanthanides, along with scandium and yttrium, all of which share unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties that make them indispensable across numerous industries. These
New export restrictions directly impact key elements used in high-performance technologies, renewable energy systems, and advanced defense applications. China has ramped up its control over critical minerals by imposing new export restrictions on seven types of rare earth elements. The move threatens to disrupt the global supply of materials essential for manufacturing advanced technologies. The
As global industries pivot toward clean energy, electric mobility, and advanced electronics, the demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has surged to unprecedented levels. South America—long known for its rich reserves of copper, lithium, and gold—is now entering the spotlight for its potential to become a significant player in rare earth mining. With nations like
Amid trade tensions and falling iron ore prices, Chilean mining group CAP is shifting focus toward rare earths through its partnership with Aclara Resources. With plans to restart the Los Colorados Mine and invest US$275 million in 2025, CAP sees a “gigantic opportunity” in Chile and Brazil to challenge China’s dominance in heavy rare earth production.
Emilia Calleja Alor, Director General of the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), presented the latest progress on the 2025–2030 Strengthening and Expansion Plan for Mexico’s National Electric System during the April 9th “Mañanera del pueblo” press conference. 29 GW of New Capacity by 2030 Calleja summarized that the Plan aims to add 29,074 MW of
Chilean startup Awa Solar is tackling water scarcity with solar-powered technology that extracts drinking water from air. Combining sustainability, innovation, and social impact, the company is expanding its reach with public refill stations, “gourmet” water products, and plans to scale across Latin America and beyond.
La Paz | April 9, 2025 The permanent closure of mining operations above the 4,400-meter elevation at Cerro Rico de Potosí has reached 80%. Of the 56 mine entrances (bocaminas) that were operating as of December last year, 36 have already been shut down. An additional 10 will be closed in 2025, and the remaining
Santiago, Chile – During the World Copper Conference, top executives from mining companies operating in Chile raised concerns about disruptions to global supply chains due to rising trade tensions—particularly around potential U.S. tariffs on copper. At the same time, they called on Chilean authorities to speed up permitting processes to unlock critical investments. Trade tensions
The submission of a new Environmental Impact Addendum (Adenda) has reopened the debate over the controversial rare earth project proposed by Canadian firm Aclara Resources in the city of Penco, Biobío Region. While the company claims the initiative is environmentally sustainable, public institutions and local communities continue to voice strong ecological concerns—particularly over native flora.