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Daniel Mas and Luis Lucero oversee new mining protocols to unlock $20.7 billion in cross-border investment.

Chilean Mining Minister Daniel Mas and Argentine Mining Secretary Luis Lucero led a meeting to approve operating protocols for major cross-border mining projects in the Andes Mountains. The agreement, part of the revived Mining Integration and Complementation Treaty, aims to unlock over $20.7 billion in investment and add 540,000 metric tons of annual copper production. By establishing joint operating frameworks for the Vicuña, NexoAndino, and Filo Sur projects, the two nations can share infrastructure, such as roads and ports, to reduce costs and accelerate production. The administration announced that these projects will help position the region as a strategic supplier of critical minerals for the energy transition and artificial intelligence expansion. While a fixed timeline for implementation has not been established, the move reflects a priority for both governments to attract private investment. The collaboration also includes a joint declaration with Bolivia and Peru to strengthen regional cooperation on strategic minerals like lithium and copper.

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