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 is crucial to driving project efficiency and long-term value.
The panel featured top executives including Jaime Álvarez, Vice President and General Manager for South America Mining & Metals at Fluor; Lucy Martin, Senior Vice President and General Manager for South America Mining & Metals at Bechtel; Pedro Correa, Vice President of Projects for the Minerals Americas division at BHP; and Sergio Gaete, Director of Projects at Capstone Copper Chile.
AI, Capital Efficiency, and Early Cooperation
Among the topics discussed were the integration of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to improve predictability, enhance capital efficiency, and strengthen project safety. However, the speakers converged on a central theme: early and ethical collaboration among leaders, contractors, and stakeholders is fundamental to project success.
Lessons from Quellaveco and Beyond
Jaime Álvarez highlighted the case of the Quellaveco project in Peru, where collaboration with local communities led to building a dam instead of a desalination plant—supporting both the project’s water needs and the agricultural valley downstream. “It was a clear example of how trust and joint work can generate shared value,” he said.
Lucy Martin emphasized the importance of balancing collaboration with competition:
“We’ve faced the challenge of understanding that collaboration and competition are not mutually exclusive. This is the time to bring ideas forward and collaborate in a way that meets the expectations of our clients and the broader industry.”
Collaboration Beyond Industry Lines
Sergio Gaete added a critical point about lowering egos to achieve real partnerships:
“Collaboration should not only occur between companies, but also extend to construction firms working on-site with us—because at the end of the day, much of the game is played with them.”
A Shared Purpose for the Future of Mining
The forum concluded with a resounding call for a shared purpose in shaping the future of mining. Ethical, early-stage collaboration and a willingness to challenge one another to reach higher standards are key drivers of success. Pedro Correa underscored this point:
“The only way we can keep up with the pace of investment required in the Americas is by working together. To build competitive projects, we must lower capital costs and maximize efficiency.”
Finally, the speakers agreed that collaboration does not mean sacrificing competitiveness. On the contrary, it can be a strategic advantage. Jaime Álvarez summarized this mindset:
“We can compete in some areas, but still collaborate where the challenges are greater than our differences. From suicide prevention in the industry to using AI to detect project deviations—when we share knowledge, we all win.”
