Published: December 5, 2024 |

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McEwen Coppe, a subsidiary of McEwen Mining, has received the approval of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for its Los Azules Copper Project.

The environmental impact statement (EIS), which is the ministerial resolution approving the EIA, is a key permitting milestone on the way to feasibility, construction, and future operation.

This EIS, which is issued by the San Juan Provincial Government’s Ministry of Mines, highlights the support for copper mining in the pro-mining province of San Juan.

“Our commitment to modern, sustainable, and regenerative mining practices at Los Azules is reflected in our PEA and EIA, and we continue this work through our upcoming definitive feasibility study. We thank the 14 institutions for their work, whose efforts helped secure this key environmental permit,” said Robert McEwen, CEO and founder of McEwen Mining.

“This milestone propels Los Azules forward and highlights its transformative potential for the province and Argentina’s mining industry. As we advance, sustainability and community engagement will remain at the heart of our project development,” said Michael Meding, vice president and GM of McEwen Copper and general manager of the Los Azules Project.

Since submitting the EIA documentation in April 2023, which was compiled by the international engineering and consulting company Knight Piesold and supported by 22 subject matter experts from San Juan, the Ministry of Mining, and 14 public and private institutions comprising the evaluation committee have thoroughly reviewed more than three thousand pages of the EIA and included a process of public consultation and a site visit to the project. This rigorous process ensures the project’s environmental viability and establishes a solid foundation for responsible development.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS

Los Azules has built a strong partnership with the Calingasta community, fostering mutual trust and collaboration. McEwen Copper reaffirms its commitment to sustainable regional development by incorporating local perspectives. Los Azules distinguishes itself through its focus on sustainability. The project is designed to operate on renewable electric energy and achieve carbon neutrality by 2038. Its innovative process design ensures one of the lowest water footprints in the mining sector, aligning with international best practices.

NEXT STEPS: TOWARD FEASIBILITY AND CONSTRUCTION

With the EIA approval in place, Los Azules is advancing towards publishing a definitive feasibility study, expected in the first half of 2025, with the potential start of construction as early as 2026, further strengthening McEwen Copper’s position on the forefront of sustainable mining and as an important driver of economic and social development in San Juan.

McEwen Copper is a well-funded, private company that owns 100 percent of the large and of the advanced-stage Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina, and the Elder Creek copper-gold project in Nevada. Los Azules is one of the largest and most promising copper projects worldwide, aiming to produce low-carbon copper that will position McEwen Copper as a leader in providing critical metals for the global energy transition. The project is being developed in partnership with strategic partners such as Stellantis, a global leader in vehicle manufacturing, and Nuton, a Rio Tinto venture, specialized in advanced technologies for efficient and sustainable copper extraction.

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