🇦🇷 In September 2025, the Argentine province of Catamarca undertook a strategic diplomatic mission to Tokyo, Japan, aimed at attracting significant mining investments. This initiative underscores Catamarca’s commitment to positioning itself as a reliable global supplier of lithium and copper, critical minerals for the clean energy transition and e-mobility sectors.
The delegation, led by Marcelo Murúa, Catamarca’s Minister of Mining, included prominent provincial officials such as National Deputy Fernanda Ávila and CAMYEN S.E. President Hugo Moya. They engaged in high-level discussions with major Japanese corporations including Sumitomo Corporation, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Mitsubishi Corporation. These companies have strong interests in lithium and copper, essential components for electric vehicle supply chains and renewable energy technologies.
Meetings highlighted Catamarca’s vast geological resources and its potential to develop mining projects locally while attracting industrial investment. The Argentine Ambassador to Japan, Eduardo Tempone, hosted a reception that brought together local tech and mining companies, fostering institutional and business ties to open new collaboration channels between Catamarca and Japan’s dynamic market.
This mission is part of a broader strategy to convert interest into concrete investments that will stimulate Catamarca’s mining sector and economic growth, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner in the global supply of critical minerals.
Argentina is experiencing a mining boom in 2025, driven by competitive legal frameworks such as the elimination of export taxes on minerals and strong capital inflows. Mining exports reached a 13-year high in the first quarter of 2025, with Catamarca contributing significantly. Key lithium projects include Galan Lithium’s HMW Project, approved for a US$217 million investment, targeting annual production of approximately 20,850 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2027, and Zijin Mining’s Tres Quebradas Project, which commenced production in September 2025 with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year.
Innovations in sustainable mining are also notable, with the Lindero mine in Catamarca’s Puna region becoming Argentina’s first hybrid mine integrating solar power and lithium-ion battery storage to reduce diesel consumption by around 40%. This development marks a significant milestone in sustainable mining practices in extreme environments.
Japanese collaboration is expected to extend beyond investment to technology partnerships, potentially introducing advanced extraction and refining technologies, supply chain integration, and downstream industrial development for lithium and copper. This diversification strategy aims to balance existing investments from Chinese and Australian firms dominating the South American lithium sector.
The Catamarca mission to Japan exemplifies a multifaceted approach combining legal incentives, sustainable innovations, and international diplomacy to reinforce its position as a global critical minerals hub. The engagement with leading Japanese corporations signals promising business opportunities, operational advancements, and investment prospects within the mining sector.
Source(s): https://www.panorama-minero.com/en/news/japan-catamarca-launches-agenda-to-boost-mining-investments, https://hanseatica.com/en/2025/08/11/boom-minero-en-argentina-la-oportunidad-que-esta-transformando-regiones-logistica-e-inversiones/, https://www.zijinmining.com/news/news-detail-122311.htm
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