The Mexican Mining indUsTry: More Than diaMonds in … · The Mexican Mining indUsTry: More Than...
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V - 2015 Negocios para exportadores The Lifestyle Mexico’s Unique Mining Towns Guest Opinion Federico Kunz The Mexican Mining Law THE MEXICAN MINING INDUSTry: MORE THAN DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
Transcript of The Mexican Mining indUsTry: More Than diaMonds in … · The Mexican Mining indUsTry: More Than...
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Negociospara exportadores
The LifestyleMexico’s Unique Mining Towns
Guest OpinionFederico Kunz
The Mexican Mining Law
The Mexican Mining indUsTry: More Than diaMonds in The roUgh
Enrique Peña NietoPresident of the United Mexican States
Mexico is experiencing a positive moment. The structural reforms, designed to increase economic
growth and improve well-being of millions of Mexicans, are already being implemented and their benefits are beginning to reflect in the daily lives of our population. The opening up of the energy sector to both domestic and foreign investment, as well as joint ventures, has awakened a spirit of trust and innovation among the main players of the industry.
The modern and dynamic country that all Mexicans are building is characterized by strong industries in constant expansion, like the manufacturing, automotive, aero-space, information technologies, and cre-ative sectors.
Mexico has a rich territory, vast natural wealth and a well-known vocation for min-ing. The sector offers a wide range of oppor-tunities for exploration and extraction, al-ways combined with a commitment to pro-tect and preserve the environment through improved technological development and innovation.
Undoubtedly, this historic energy re-form should be complemented by a strong mining industry with the necessary capa-bilities for maximum exploitation. This edition of Negocios ProMéxico presents important investment and export opportu-nities in the Mexican mining sector: a key industry for economic growth and region-al development.
Table of Contents May 2015
Cover Feature
21st Century Mining in MexiCo By CoordinaCión General de Minería, seCretaría de eConoMía
From ProMéxico
Mexican Geological Survey
By serviCio GeolóGiCo MexiCano
Mining clusters boost the industry
Mexican Mining LawBy FederiCo Kunz
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Guest OpinionMexico’s Partner Special Report
figures36 481807
Special Report Guest Opinion
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22 Agnico Eagle By aGniCo eaGle
24 Torex Gold interview with Fred stanFord
26 Goldcorp intervieu with MiChael harvey
37 World Class Mining By MarCos Gluyas solórzano
41 Energy reform By rodriGo Cansino
43 Fifomi By FideiCoMiso de FoMento Minero
46 Mining: Strategic lever for growth in Mexico
By serGio alMazán esqueda
28 Processes and acquisitions in the mining sector By raquel rivas
ProMéxiCoFrancisco N. González Díaz
CEO
Karla Mawcinitt BuenoCommunication and Image
General Coordinator
Felipe Gómez antúnezDirector of Publications and Content
Jorge arturo Morales Becerra ContrerasEditorial coordination
teresita GarcíaEditorial collaboration
cover Photoarchive
Negocios ProMéxico es una publicación mensual editada por ProMéxico, Camino a Santa Teresa número 1679, colonia Jardines del Pedregal, delegación Álvaro Obregón, CP 01900, México, DF Teléfono: (52) 55 5447 7000. Portal en Internet: www.promexico.gob.mx; correo electrónico: [email protected]. Editor responsable: Felipe Gómez Antúnez (alta en trámite). Reserva de derechos al uso exclusivo No. 04-2009-012714564800-102. Licitud de título: 14459; licitud de contenido: 12032, ambos otorgados por la Comisión Calificadora de Publicaciones y Revistas Ilustradas de la Secretaría de Gobernación. ISSN: 2007-1795.
Negocios ProMéxico año 8, número V, mayo de 2015, se imprimió un tiraje de 7,000 ejemplares. Impresa por Cía. Impresora El Universal, S.A. de C.V. Las opiniones ex-presadas por los autores no reflejan necesariamente la postura del editor de la publicación. Queda estrictamente prohibida la reproducción total o parcial de los contenidos e imágenes de la publicación sin previa autorización de ProMéxico. Publicación gratuita. Está prohibida su venta y distribución comercial.
ProMéxico is not responsible for inaccurate information or omissions that might exist in the information provided by the participant companies nor of their economic sol-vency. The institution might or might not agree with an author’s statements; therefore the responsibility for each text is the writers, not on the institution, except when stated otherwise. Although this magazine verifies all the information printed on its pages, it will not accept responsibility derived from any omissions, inaccuracies or mistakes. May 2015.
Download the PDF version and read the interactive edition of
Negocios ProMéxico at negocios.promexico.gob.mx.
editorial CounCil
Consejo editorial
Ildefonso Guajardo villarreal
Francisco de rosenzweig Mendialdua
enrique Jacob rocha
Francisco N. González Díaz
embajador alfonso de Maria y Campos Castelló
Luis Miguel Pando Leyva
Francisco Javier Méndez aguiñaga
rodolfo Balmaceda
Guillermo Wolf
Jaime Zabludovsky
Gabriela de la riva
adolfo Laborde Carranco
Silvia Núñez García
María Cristina rosas González
ulises Granados Quiroz
Karla I. Mawcinitt Bueno
This publication is not for sale.
its sale and commercial distribution are forbidden.
The Lifestyle ThE COmPlETE GuIDE TO ThE mExICan Way OF lIFE
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Mines and BallsThe story of football
in Mexico
Mexico’s unique mining townsBy MexiCo tourisM Board
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Fromproméxico
Throughout the history of
our country the dynamism
and productivity of the min-
ing industry has been a con-
stant presence. Mexican mining is ground-
ed in the mineral wealth that is distributed
across much of the country’s territory. The
extraction of mineral resources has led not
only to the creation of a significant amount
of employment, but also to the develop-
ment of infrastructure, technology and lo-
gistics, which in turn has benefited other
productive sectors.
The mining sector in Mexico princi-
pally comprises state-owned companies,
although the competitive advantages of the
country attract growing numbers of foreign
mining firms every year. In fact, in 2014
Mexico received over 2.2 billion dollars of
foreign direct investment in this sector.
The Mexican mining sector offers free
flow of investments and legal certainty,
which is a clear reflection of the productive
policies of the present government. In ad-
dition, it is noted for the sustained growth
maintained over the past few years, and for
up to 500 prospective sites with potential
for mining—principally of gold, silver, cop-
per, and zinc.
In this sector, Mexico is among the lead-
ing producers worldwide. Indeed, we are
the global leader in silver production and
among the top ten in zinc, gold, and cop-
per. In addition, Mexico is considered the
fourth most attractive destination for in-
vestment in prospecting worldwide, and the
first in Latin America.
Also of note is the current maturity of
the sector, visible in the fact that increasing
numbers of companies are prospecting for
and extracting these resources with a long-
term perspective of sustainability and social
responsibility, operating in accordance with
the highest standards of respect and care for
ecosystems, as well as establishing robust ties
with the communities where they operate.
In short, the mining industry in Mexico
continues to shine with a light all its own.
Welcome to Negocios ProMéxico!
Francisco N. González DíazCEO
ProMéxico
Para exportadores
Breves infografía60 69
AuSTRALiA eN LA iNduSTRiA MiNeRA MexicANAexploración de oportunidadesPor rodolFo esaú Garza de veGa
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Rusia y México125 años de relaciones diplomáticasPor JaiMe eduardo Juárez arias
compromiso sosteniblePor ósCar hernández
63 65
innovaciones que revolucionan al sector mineroPor raquel rivas
camimex en la culturaPor CaMiMex
PANORAMA ecONóMicO de chiNA y su relación bilateral con México
68 70 71
BRIEFS BRIEFS
OIL
MiNiNG cLuSTeR APPROAcheS WeATheRFORd ANd SheLL
Clúster Minero-Petrolero de Coahuila A. C. (the mining & oil cluster of Coahuila) has been meeting with Weatherford and Shell in the hope that these companies will participate in civil engineering activities, high-pressure machining, tanks, assembly and environmental impact studies, among other tasks required by the manufacturing area of these international firms.
About eleven companies working in the mining & oil cluster have already been interviewed by Shell Mexico, although only four are already in the process of certification, while the other seven are in the drafting stages.
www.weatherford.com
www.shell.com.mx
AUTOMOTIVE
NeAPcO MexicO’S NeW PLANT iN cOAhuiLA
Neapco Group Mexico, a manufacturer of accessories and com-ponents for the automotive industry with its headquarters in Michigan, USA, announced that it will invest 1.27 billion pesos in a plant that will be located in the Mencorsa Industrial Park of Saltillo, Coahuila.
The company will manufacture components for power transmis-sions required by the automotive industry. With these facilities, the firm expects to create 445 direct jobs in the next five years.
Coahuila is one of the leading states for the automotive industry. It currently has four production plants and ranks third nationwide in the production of light vehicles.
www.neapco.com
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MANUFACTURING
eSSiLOR WiLL iNveST 40 MiLLiON dOLLARS iN BAjA cALiFORNiA
The French manufacturer of prescription lenses an-nounced the construction of a manufacturing plant in Tijuana, Baja California, where it will invest forty million dollars and create five hundred jobs.
From these installations located on the border between the two countries, the company intends to serve the west coast market of the USA. The Mexico Essilor plant will be one of the largest worldwide.
www.essilor.com.mx
BEVERAGES
cONSTeLLATiON BRANdS WiLL iNveST iN cOAhuiLA
This American beer company will invest over 2.2 billion dollars in its installa-tions in the northern state of Coahuila. With this investment the company will expand its brewery, as well as increase the capacity of its subsidiary, Industria Vidriera. These investments will create 3,500 jobs.
Constellation Brands is the third largest brewer in the USA. Currently the company’s Mexican affiliate operates in the state of Coahuila and produces one billion liters of beer per year. By 2016 the company expects to duplicate that volume, by producing two billion liters, rising to 2.5 billion liters in 2017.
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MINING
TiMMiNS GOLd iNveSTS 200 MiLLiON dOLLARS iN cOAhuiLA
Timmins Gold Mining Corp will invest 200 million dollars in the next four years for the expansion of mining projects in the states of Sonora, Guerrero and Veracruz. The Canadian company recently acquired the Caballo Blanco (White Horse) project on Mexico’s east coast, and Ana Paula in the country’s southeast.
The aim is to exploit the mining group’s synergies to generate a higher produc-tion of gold. With these two new projects, Timmins will increase its production, from 115,000 ounces of gold annually to 320,000 ounces by 2019.
www.timminsgold.com
MINING
MiNiNG cOMPANy WiLL iNveST iN eiGhT PROjecTS
Minera Fresnillo, the main producer of silver world-wide, will invest 2 billion dollars in the expansion of its operations in Mexico. The investment will be channeled through eight projects in states like Chihuahua, Durango and Zacatecas.
This year, Minera Fresnillo allocated 7 million dollars to mine maintenance and new projects, and 172.2 million dollars to exploration. Later this year the company will start operations at the San Julián mine, located on the border between Chihuahua and Durango. The company has a portfolio of twenty exploration projects in Mexico, Peru and Chile.
www.fresnilloplc.com
98 May 2015 May 2015
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21ST ceNTuRy MiNiNGin MexiCo
Today, the Mexican industry devoted to the extraction of mineral resources continues to occupy a central place in the national economy. We know it has been a produc-tive activity with a leading role throughout our history and now has become one of the most dynamic, productive and competitive industries in our country. Mining activities contribute 1% of GDP and an overall par-ticipation of 4%, combined with mineral processing. Furthermore, it employs over 351,000 workers and is the fourth genera-tor of foreign currency.
This industry has gone through several stages of evolution, which have enabled it to develop and grow by adapting to the needs that our development has required at several junctures. Currently, we are en-
tering a new phase, which poses particular challenges. This stage—still in the process of consolidation—includes the following features: new fiscal conditions in the sec-tor; the formation of mining clusters; the regional reconfiguration of the country, strengthening the south and west in rela-tion to mining activities; consolidating perspectives for social responsibility and sustainable development; strengthening the multinational sector of Mexican com-panies; the closer relationship with the hydrocarbon industries brought about by the energy reform; and, of course, the stra-tegic rethinking of mining policy, includ-ing a realignment of priorities in terms of exploration of the national territory, fund-ing for the industry, investment promotion
Cover Featurephotos archive
the Mexican mining sector is dynamic and competitive, generating wealth and welfare. It faces significant challenges as it evolves towards socially and environmentally responsible methods that can allow it to become a stronger core activity for the prosperity of the country and its inhabitants.
by COORdINACIóN GENERAL dE MINERíA, SECRETARíA dE ECONOMíA
ParTiciPaTion in The 2014 gdP
(extraCtIve MINING aND MINeraL ProCeSSING)
Expanded mining, 4.0
manufacturing, 14.2
Construction, 7.3
Electricity and Water, 2.2
Oil, 5.8Primary Sector, 3.1
Services, 60.8
Source: InEGI and uS Geological Survey. Preliminary data.
BRIEFS
ENERGY
MexicO cOuLd Receive uP TO 4 BiLLiON dOLLARS iN ReNeWABLe eNeRGy
According to Fatih Birol, chief economist at the Inter-national Energy Agency, Mexico could receive up to four billion dollars in renewable energy. This invest-ment could begin this year and continue until 2030, and would translate into installing 2,000 megawatts of capacity annually.
According to experts, Mexico’s electricity sector will require about ten billion dollars of investment, of which close to four billion will be for renewable energy and other low carbon sources of energy. Mexico’s effort to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is also related to the increased use of natural gas in the electricity sector, which implies lower emissions than burning coal or oil.
www.iea.org
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HEALTH
MedTRONic, A cOMPANy FOcuSed ON exPORTS
This American producer of medical devices is building on Mexico’s potential in terms of health, as this country is the second largest market in Latin America. The company has six plants in Mexico, located in Chihuahua, Sonora and Baja California, which take advantage of the proximity to the USA, the main destination of its exports. Each year Medtronic sells around 28 billion dollars, of which Latin America represents 10%.
The company became the world’s largest medical device manufacturers in fifteen therapeutic lines, such as diabetes and surgery, following the acquisition of Covidien—a firm that manufactures surgery equipment—in January 2015. With this operation, the company is now the largest producer of medical devices in the world, with 53,000 patents, and 88,000 employees in the 160 countries where it operates.
www.medtronic.com.mx / www.covidien.com
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| Negocios ProMéxico
May 2015
to consider that the best placed country in the global arena was Finland, with a rating of 83.8. From these results it can be con-cluded that our country offers competitive advantages in some of the variables that are evaluated, but undoubtedly has a big challenge ahead to improve other key as-pects to ensure a better environment for the investor, and for the performance of the sector’s productive activity.
In addition to its potential and its geo-logical information, Mexico is well posi-tioned in the assessment of environmental regulations, regulatory duplication and inconsistencies, uncertainty about existing regulations and infrastructure quality. By contrast, the topics showing a significantly lower evaluation are security, the fiscal sys-tem, the legal system and protected areas. These are some of the challenges that the Mexican mining sector faces for develop-ment in the 21st century in order to con-solidate its dynamism, its ability to attract investment, create jobs, generate foreign currency and economic benefit, while be-coming a strong, modern and competitive industry, committed to sustainable devel-opment and growth.
governance and coMPeTiTiveness: chaLLenges For Mining in MexicoThe structural reforms that have been taking place in our country since 2013 are a boost for transformational change, whose main objective is the transition to a more produc-tive economy in order to drive growth and development. One of them is fiscal reform,
which has had and will continue to have a fundamental impact on the mining sector. For many years—including those of the longest and most beneficial boost in metal prices in the first decade of this century—the mining industry worked without special ob-ligations for taking advantage of the nation’s resources, in sharp contrast with the reality of most mining countries.
Approved rights seek to boost the evo-lution of the sector towards a higher stage of development, committed to and respon-
sible for the prosperity of the nation. In this regard, it is noteworthy that mining operations in Mexico, despite the condi-tions of the world minerals markets, re-main profitable thanks to the competitive advantages of the country that, in addition to the above, include competitive operat-ing costs. The new tax regime will allow a better distribution of the benefits of using the subsoil between communities where mining activities take place.
Article 271 of the Federal Law of Rights guarantees the use of resources for mining rights when the goal is social, environmen-tal and urban development of the mining municipalities, including schools, preserva-tion of natural areas, water treatment and public transportation, among others, which will be decided through regional (state) committees, with the participation of soci-ety, business and government.
Thus, the new tax system will not only lead to a better distribution of wealth, but also social participation in the decisions that determine how that wealth is used. Therefore, it also provides an opportunity to create channels of communication and joint work with businesses, communi-ties and local authorities, which can and should be used to create better conditions for cooperation and growth.
Additionally, it is important to con-sider that the document “General Crite-ria for Economic Policy for the Initiative of the Law on Income and the Budget of
Cover Feature
and modernization of procedures and pa-perwork related to the activity. (For more details on this, see the 2013-2018 Mining Development Program.)
This whole process is coming together in the reconfiguration of a more modern and mature mining sector. For this process to be consolidated, the industry must face and solve challenges brought about by new circumstances. The agenda includes, among other issues, innovation, efficiency, scientific and technological development; an initiative on transparency; the deepen-ing of environmental commitments, and productive articulation for generating higher value added products.
In order to meet these challenges, it is essential to consider that, broadly speaking, the mining sectors composed of companies, the public sector, associations and social organizations, the workforce and commu-nities in mining settlements. Therefore, this new phase also includes a renewed strate-gic vision of public policy and governance, such as a more horizontal government that shares responsibility with traditional and emerging actors of civil society. Only from this perspective will it be possible to pro-vide a comprehensive agenda for building Mexican mining in the 21st century.
The chaLLenge oF coMPeTiTivenessMexico, as an emerging economy, pro-vides a competitive general framework. It is currently the 15th largest economy in the world and the second in Latin America; it provides high stability in its macroeconom-ic indicators, including a record level of in-ternational reserves close to 200 billion dol-lars, in addition to a strategic geographical position as a global platform for exports.
This context enhances the competi-tive advantages of the Mexican mining industry, allowing it to position itself as one of the most attractive destinations for investment. According to the 2014 Behre Dolbear Report, Mexico ranked as the fifth country with the best conditions for investment in the mining industry and, ac-cording to SNL Metals and Mining, the country was the first recipient of explora-tion investment in Latin America and the fourth worldwide.
One of the advantages of Mexico as a mining country is its vast geological po-tential. It is upon this foundation that our country has been able to consolidate as one of the leading producers of minerals on a global scale. It is the largest producer
of silver in the world, the second producer of bismuth and fluorite, and the third in celestite and wollastonite.
This stock of resources is enhanced by the work of the Mexican Geological Survey, in terms of exploration, cartog-raphy and systematization of geological information of the territory, making the availability of this data another advan-tage of our country. It is worth noting that 100% of the national territory is covered by 1:250,000 scale maps, and 37.9% at 1:50,000. Also, a total of 25,315 mining concessions covering an area of 24.8 mil-lion hectares (12.6% of the national terri-tory) are registered. Seven states concen-trate 72.4% of these concessions and 66% of the concession area. In the latter, the states of Sonora and Coahuila stand out, with a participation of 17% and 11%, respectively, followed by the states of Du-rango and Chihuahua, with 9% each.
The Canada-based Fraser Institute rec-ognizes this information internationally. Every year it publishes a global survey on the perception of investors regarding the territories and advantages for investing in mining activities. In the 2014 report, Mexico ranked as number 33 out of 122 jurisdictions, with a score of 67.6 out of a maximum of 100 possible points.
In the context of our closest com-petitors in terms of attracting investment, Mexico ranked as the third country with the best conditions for investment, behind Chile, which had a score of 77.2, and Peru, with 69.6. As a reference, it is important
Cover Feature
sUrFace concessions by sTaTe 2015
Source: DGRm, SE.
no. state Total current concessions
surface concessions (Millions of hectares)
surface concessions/ Total state surface (%)
1 Sonora 4,429 4.25 23.70
2 Durango 3,471 2.85 23.11
3 Chihuahua 3,355 2.17 8.77
4 Zacatecas 2,291 2.16 28.69
5 Coahuila 1,943 1.88 12.40
6 Jalisco 1,444 1.68 21.38
7 Sinaloa 1,394 1.43 24.93
Other States 6,988 8.41 —
Total 25,315 24.83 12.6
Fraser rePorT 2014: variabLe coMParison (PLace)
Source: Fraser Institute, 2015.
Uncertainty regarding existing regulations
geological databases
regulatory duplication and inconsistencies
environmental regulations
Chile 14mexico 18uruguay 28Peru 31Colombia 55Brazil 75Ecuador 110Bolivia 114
mexico 34Peru 40Chile 46uruguay 68Brazil 69Colombia 79Ecuador 90Bolivia 112
mexico 23Peru 42Chile 54uruguay 65Colombia 71Brazil 99Bolivia 102Ecuador 117
uruguay 7Chile 8mexico 26Colombia 45Peru 58Brazil 94Bolivia 99Ecuador 108
Fraser rePorT 2014: variabLe coMParison (PLace)
Source: Fraser Institute, 2015.
Taxation
Land disputes
security
Quality of infrastructure
Chile 29Colombia 49Peru 55uruguay 58mexico 103Brazil 105Ecuador 117Bolivia 122
uruguay 27Chile 47mexico 61Brazil 88Colombia 92Peru 93Ecuador 111Bolivia 117
uruguay 33mexico 39Chile 51Peru 60Colombia 73Brazil 76Ecuador 93Bolivia 109
uruguay 2Chile 50Brazil 78Peru 87Ecuador 94Bolivia 97mexico 104Colombia 108
Source: Company annual Reports 2014.
coMPeTiTive cosTsCaSh CoSt vS. PrICe 2014
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average Price of gold (1,266 dl/oz)
Mexican Mines
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Expenditures of the Federation for the Fiscal Year 2015” does not include modi-fications to the fiscal framework, in fulfill-ment of the commitment established in the Tax Certainty Agreement of February 27, 2014, in the sense of not proposing new taxes or increasing existing ones, or elimi-nating tax benefits for any taxpayer.
To address another major challenge, that of security, a joint effort is also be-ing conducted between the authorities and businesses in order to provide timely solu-tions for the problems the industry is fac-ing. The Ministry of Economy, through the General Coordination of Mines, has cre-ated working groups comprising mining companies and the Federal Police, which through the Gendarmerie is strengthen-ing the presence of security forces in each state to protect the productive sectors of the economy. Also, a safety task force was formed between the authorities of the Fed-eral Police and the mining companies. At the head of this effort is the Gendarmerie Division, in coordination with the Investi-gation Division and the Territorial Deploy-ment Commission. The aim is to use the available federal police force in four areas: on-site presence, intelligence, information sharing and communication channels.
On the issue of the legal system, the 2013-2018 Mining Development Program seeks to modernize institutional regulations for the sector and improve the paperwork processes related to mining concessions. In this regard, there have been efforts to launch a simplification of procedures, and improve their attention based on strength-ening and improving the digital infrastruc-ture of the Information and Mining Admin-istration System (SIAM). These activities in-clude work focused on the comprehensive
review and updating of digitized processes and mapping, strengthening information consultation processes on SIAM’s website (including Digital Mining Cartography), fil-tering migration processes and diagnostics, and validating the quality of the informa-tion available to users.
Similarly, protected areas are also part of a general policy for boosting sustain-able, environmentally-friendly develop-ment. This implies a harmonious devel-opment that meets the needs of economic growth, social development, respect and care for nature, and involves establishing clear rules that provide certainty to pro-ductive activities, in general, and to the companies investing in the mining sector, in particular. The General Coordination of Mines of the Ministry of Economy, in a combined effort with the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex), is pushing for a neces-sary balance to achieve the comprehensive development this nation requires.
These are just some of the areas in which the Mexican government is work-ing to support the mining industry in our territory. The mining sector is a key ele-ment of the national economy and a pil-lar of economic and social development. Therefore, the Mexican government is committed to supporting its expansion and growth within a framework of so-cial and environmental responsibility, to promote and develop the best conditions to strengthen their productivity and com-
petitiveness, while ensuring certainty and investment security.
Despite global market conditions for minerals, mining investment in the country has maintained its vitality. In 2014 almost 5 billion dollars were invested, and Cami-mex estimates that this year investment will reach 5.4 billion dollars. That is, be-tween 2013 and 2015, the mining industry will have invested about 17 billion dollars in our country. Additionally, the sector is characterized as a big exporter and, conse-quently, has a positive trade balance. Trade of mining-metallurgical products achieved a surplus of over 8.4 billion dollars in 2014.
Mexican mining has recovered its posi-tion in the world’s most important invest-ment capital market, the Toronto Stock Exchange. After a momentary dip, as a re-sult of a certain level of uncertainty among investors, Mexico was repositioned as the principal destination in Latin America of capital flows into the mining sector, funded through that market. In 2014 total invest-ment for mining projects in Mexico reached 1.1 billion dollars, surpassing the figure for 2013 and even 2012. The total number of projects financed in 2014 were 166, com-pared with 76 in Peru, 52 in Chile, and 45 in Argentina, to mention the main ones.
It is true that the sector has several pend-ing tasks in order to overcome its challenges, but by working together, through dialogue and mutual respect, they will gradually and progressively be resolved. N
Cover Feature
Main ProdUcTs oF Mining-MeTaLLUrgicaL ProdUcTion
(JaNuary-MarCh 2015-PerCeNtaGe Share)
Source: InEGI.
Others, 34.6
Copper, 19.5
Silver, 20.1
Gold, 29.4
Fluorite, 1.0Salt, 1.2molybdenum, 1.7lead, 2.7Coal, 2.8Coke, 4.8Iron, 5.1Zinc, 6.5
caPiTaL FUnded ThroUgh Tsx-Tsxv 2014
Mexico(Billions of Dollars)
Mexico’s Participation in Latin america
Mining companies Listed on Tsx-Tsxv Per country(Latin america)
1.21.00.80.60.40.20.0
1.0
0.1
1.1
2012 2013 2014
Other Countries,
39%
mexico, 61%
200
150
100
50
0
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Source: TSx.
166
7652 45 40 38 19 12 10 5 5 4 2 2
Since its inception in 1944, the Mexican Geological Survey (SGM) provides essential information to facilitate exploration, identification and quantification of the country’s mineral resources.
SGM is a public agency of the federal government with legal personality and its own patrimony. It is governed by the Min-ing Law and is attached to the Ministry of Economy, through the General Coordina-tion of Mines.
Its functions include: development of geological, mining and geochemical map-ping; studies and analysis of mineral re-sources; environmental geology; hydroge-ology; energy and mineral geoscience; and geological, mining, geochemical, geophysi-cal and environmental cartography.
MaPPing and MineraL resoUrcesGeological charts are the most important tool the SGM has to interpret and under-stand the behavior of the Earth.
With advanced technology, geologi-cal mapping generates information and thereby analyzes regional data gathered in the field, which, once geo-referenced, are presented in the form of specialized charts, both in print and digital formats accessible to the public.
Technical assistance is provided in support of national mining development, which requires skilled personnel to inter-act with the field of small and medium mining.
Also, the SGM offers consulting servic-es and professional support for the devel-opment of exploration and exploitation of mineral resources. Specialized staff advise, direct and oversee—sometimes through firms or qualified consultants—requests
Special reportphotos courtesy of mexican geological survey
by SERVICIO GEOLóGICO MExICANO
MexicAN GeOLOGicAL SuRveyMininG with reliaBle data
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Negocios ProMéxico |
16 May 2015
| Negocios ProMéxico
May 2015
ration and exploitation; and other specific questions regarding the impact of liquids in infrastructure works, for example, are all subjects for the SGM.
Hence, it is crucial to know the charac-teristics of exploitation and hydrogeological conditions of the aquifers. It is a constant challenge for this agency to update knowl-edge of groundwater in the different nation-al geo-hydrological basins, and anticipate its evolution in the short and medium terms.
The types of studies conducted by the SGM are:
1. Hydrogeological surveys: determina-tion of the presence of groundwater, including depth and direction of flow.
2. Hydrogeological assessment: quantifi-cation of available water in the aquifer.
3. Hydrogeological modeling: predicting the performance of the aquifer system.
4. Hydro-geochemical characterization (quality): effects of current and potential sources of groundwater contamination.
The agency implemented the Gas As-sociated to Carbon (GAC) project, which aims to assess the gas potential of the country. To do this, it considers the geo-logical features that delineate areas in the various sedimentary basins with potential for containing commercial gas deposits and, subsequently, tender areas represent-
ing an interest for prospecting and/or ex-ploring this energy source.
The experience accumulated over seven decades is reflected in the devel-opment of the Digital Information Sys-tem. This valuable tool provides data in a quick, timely and reliable manner to support planning activities and the de-velopment of mapping projects, more detailed geological and scientific studies, and any other project related to the earth sciences.
Information and cartography products generated by the SGM can be obtained from the Earth Sciences Documentation Center, located in Mexico City, as well as from any of its seven regional offices. N
www.sgm.gob.mx
Special report
and needs expressed by small and medium mining companies, as well as social sector miners.
With a national commitment to the preservation of the environment, the insti-tution conducts studies of assessment and mitigation of geological risk phenomena to protect the environment of the popula-tion.
The SGM fosters a culture of informa-tion, education and awareness of geologi-cal hazards, by disseminating and promot-ing interest in geoscience to encourage more young people to study the different
branches of geology. And among geosci-ence professionals, it encourages research and development of new technologies.
The institution contributes with ter-ritorial planning of new urban areas and natural risk management in urban developments, while avoiding irregular settlements.
The SGM performs collaboration agreements and contracts for studies of Ecological Zoning (OTS) and Environ-mental Impact Statements, as well as an Atlas of Natural Hazards and Risks.
hydrogeoLogy and digiTaL geosci-enceHydrogeological studies include the evalu-ation of the climatic conditions of a region, the rainfall regime, water chemistry and physical characteristics of rock masses, such as permeability, porosity, fracturing, chemical composition and geological and geotectonic features.
Geological materials that condition the presence, distribution and flow of water in the subsoil; the relationship of groundwater with the geological environ-ment; the laws governing water circula-tion; the physico-chemical characteristics of groundwater and its evolution, explo-
Special report
The experience accumulated over seven decades is reflected in
the development of the Digital Information System.
goLd sPoTs in Mexico
Figures Figures
MexicAN MiNiNG SecTOR
Mexico has a wide variety of geological terrains able to develop mining projects related to the geological evolution.
MexicO’S MiNiNG POTeNTiAL
The Mexican territory shows well defined mineralized belts and metallogenic provinces of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, iron, and others.
The Mexican territory occupies 1,964,000 km2, of which 70% has geological suitability for development of mining projects because of a favorable geological structure and evolution.
70% of the country contains mining geological features, only27% of the national territory has been explored
Fluor (F)
Gold, Silver, Copper (Au, Ag, cu)
Massive Sulfides:Gold, Silver, Zinc, Copper, Lead (Au, Ag, Zn, cu, Pb)
Strontium (Sr)
Manganese (Mn)
Iron (Fe)
Copper, Molybdenum, Gold (cu, Mo, Au)
Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper (Zn, Pb, Ag, cu)
Phospates (P)
Coal (c)
au, ag, zn, Cu, Pb
au, ag, Cu
au, ag, Cu
Fe
oil &Gas
F
F
Mn
sr
Fe
C
zn, Pb, ag, Cu
Cu, Mo, au
MexicAN MiNe PROducTiON By MiNeRAL
SiLveR20.1% cOPPeR
19.5%
GOLd29.4%
zinc
6.5%
sand 3
.9%
stone
agre
gates
3.6
%
iron
5.1
%
Grave
l 2.8
%le
ad 2
.7%
Coal
2.8%
d. sto
nes 1
.6%
lim
e 1.
5%
Mol
ibden
um 1
.7%
Fluor
ite 1
.1%
Calci
te 1
.0%
salt
1.2%
sodiu
m s
ulfat
e 0
.5%
silica
0.5
%sulf
ur 0.5
%o
ther
s 4%
1ST
2Nd
3Rd
4Th
5Th
6Th
7Th
8Th
10Th
WORLd RANk OF MexicAN MiNe PROducTiON
silver
Bismuth, Fluorite
Celestite, wollastonite
Cadmium
Molybdenum, lead
zinc
salt, diatomite
Barite, Graphite, Gold, Gypsum
Copper
MAiN MARkeTS FOR MexicAN MiNiNG exPORTS
MAiN MiNiNG PROduceR STATeS
(% oF producTion value)
52% 12% 3%5% 3%7% 2%3% 1% 1%
Mexican mining metallurgical exports
year Million dollars
2008 12,450
2009 10,241
2010 15,606
2011 22,635
2012 22,720
2013 18,480
2014 17,053
Source: Ministry of economy.
eMPLOyMeNT ANd iNveSTMeNT
Mining metallurgical employment
year Workers
2008 273,034
2009 269,501
2010 283,800
2011 309,722
2012 328,555
2013 332,501
2014 340,817
2015-apr 351,386
estimated data. Source:IMSS and CaMIMex.
investment in mining sector
year Million dollars
2008 3,656
2009 2,858
2010 3,316
2011 5,612
2012 8,043
2013 6,576
2014e
4,948
2015e
5,458
e/ estimated data. Source:IMSS and CaMIMex.
Sonora35.3%
chihuahua11.3%
coahuila4.7%
durango7.9%
Guerrero3.5%
edo. de Méx.2.8%
SLP4.8%
Zacatecas18.8%
Clúster Minero de Chihuahua
Clúster Minero-Petrolero de Coahuila
Clúster Minero de Zacatecas
Clúster Minero de Sonora
Mining clusters
Cu, Mo, a
u
Cu,
Mo,
au
P
19
Negocios ProMéxico |
18 May 2015
| Negocios ProMéxico
May 2015
Figures Figures
exPLORATiON OPPORTuNiTieS iN MexicO PRiNciPAL GOLd PROducTiON MiNeS iN MexicO
Historically, Mexico is an important producer of minerals and raw materials. One of the government’s policies in regard to mining is to provide reliable information for improving mineral resources exploration, and generating new development sites.
The Mexican Geological Survey adds value to the generated information. Servicio Geológico Mexicano (the Mexican Geological Service) offers the following services for mining exploration.
cARTOGRAPhy
1:50,000 scale geological-mining maps are essential for identifying exploration targets which, eventually, may become investment options.
This activity provides highly valuable information for investors in the mining sector, by improving project evaluation and reducing exploration costs, the most important pre-operating expenses of a mine.
GeOGRAPhicALLy ReFeReNced iNFORMATiON
SGM makes all geological information available through an easy, comprehensive and systematic query system based on geological maps, lab services, geophysics & geochemistry reports, land tenancy and grants, and many other issues useful for investing decisions: Geoinfomex.
Geoinfomex, a tool able to retrieve information that conclusively backs up business decisions. Only one click away! 80 DIFFERENT LAYERS www.sgm.gob.mx
Soledad/Dipolos
Cerro Colorado
Las Mercedes
La Colorada
Pilar
El OmbligoMercedes
Palmarejo
Álamo Dorado
Nuestra Señora
Avino-Zaragoza
Ciénega & San Ramón
Cieneguita
El HerreroSan Dimas
Tayoltita
La Trinidad
La Colorada
San RobertoSan Acacio
El Porvenir
Bolañitos
NukaySan José (Taviche)
Capire-Aurora (Mamatla)Tizapa
La GuitarraPachuca-Real del Monte
San Martín
El Cubo & Las Torres
GuanajuatoCerro San Pedro
El RosarioSaucito
Tayahua
PeñasquitoVelardeña
El Castillo
Guanaceví
Santa Bárbara
Cusihuiriachi (Cusi)El SauzalConcheño
La India OcampoMulatos
Dolores
El PicachoCerro PrietoSan Francisco
El ChanateNoche BuenaLa Herradura
Santa Elena
Noche Buena
San José
El Águila
Campo MoradoLos Filos-Bermejal
San Martín de Bolaños
Del Toro (Chalchihuites)
El Gallo
1:250,000 scale, 1995-2005. 1,960,716 sq. km.
100%
1:50,000 scale, 716,274 sq. km.
37.9%
Of areas with high geological-mining potential that
sum 1,372,500 sq. km.
52.2%
• Geological reconnaissance • Mineral deposits evaluation • Municipality resources inventory • Resources certification • Mining districts evaluation • Experimental centers (labs) • Environmental impact statements
• Geology and Geochemistry
• Geophysics
• Mining property
• Mines
• Land ownership “Ejidos”
• Satellite images
• Infrastructure
• Natural protected areas
SeRviceS PROvided By GeOiNFOMex
21
Negocios ProMéxico |
20 May 2015
| Negocios ProMéxico
May 2015
23
Negocios ProMéxico |
22 May 2015
| Negocios ProMéxico
May 2015
Pinos Altos is located in the mountainous region of northern Mexico, 220 kilometers west of Chihuahua. Mexico is known for its rich geology and favorable mining regulations. The Pinos Altos mine has proven and prob-able reserves (as of December 31, 2014) containing 1.8 million ounces of gold and 46.7 million ounces of silver (18 million tons grading 3.0 g/t gold and 79.6 g/t silver).
In addition, the Creston Mascota deposit at the Pinos Altos mine has proven and probable reserves (as of Decem-ber 31, 2014) containing 0.2 million ounces of gold and 2.5 million ounces of silver (six mil-
lion tones grading 1.2 g/t gold and 13.5 g/t silver). Pinos Al-tos poured its first gold in July 2009 and achieved commercial production in November of that year, while underground mining began in the late spring of 2010. The nearby Creston Mascota satellite operation was built in 2010 as a stand-alone pit and heap leach operation. It poured its first gold in Decem-ber 2010, and achieved com-mercial production on March 1, 2011.
Pinos Altos is expected to produce 175,000 ounces of gold as well as by-product silver in 2015, and to average 175,000 ounces of gold per year from
2016 to 2017, with a mine life through 2025.
The La India mine hosts proven and probable reserves of 0.7 million ounces of gold con-tained within 24.9 million tons of ore grading 0.9 g/t gold.
In addition, Creston Mas-cota is expected to pour fifty thousand ounces of gold in 2015 and to average 42,500 ounces of gold per year from 2016 and 2017, with an expected mine life to 2018.
La India has now achieved its design capacity with annual production rates in 2015 to 2017 expected to be between 90,000 and 95,000 ounces of gold per year.
The concept of grown and continuous improvement is deeply rooted in Agnico Eagle Mexico’s operations. Year after year the company has increased production. In 2014 it reached about 290,000 ounces of gold. The goal is to reach between 315,000 and 320,000 ounces of gold by the end of 2015.
In 2013, production reached 218,980 ounces of gold and in 2011, its first full year of opera-tions in Mexico, 85,344 ounces of gold were extracted.
a sUsTainabLe coMPanyAgnico Eagle has created more than 1,600 direct and almost 6,000 indirect jobs. Notably,
after almost sixty years operating in the world and five years in Mexico, the slogan agnico eagle goes by is to be a better company, and it pursues growth, not only for its operations but for its employees as well.
Mexico’s Partner Mexico’s Partnerphotos courtesy of agnico eagle
by AGNICO EAGLE
AGNicO eAGLe Growth and Continuous iMProveMent
over 80% of employees are from the towns that host our mining operations. In 2014, after the ac-quisition of Cayden Resources, the properties that this company explored in this country are now part of the assets of Agnico Ea-gle, such as Barqueño, a project that is in the exploration stage.
The International Cyanide Management Institute recently announced that the Pinos Altos mine was certified in substan-tial compliance with the Inter-national Cyanide Management Code (or Cyanide Code).
In March, the company re-ceived the Great Place to Work hallmark for the third consecu-tive year. It is proud of this dis-tinction because it is awarded based on surveys conducted by a third party that anonymously interviews its collaborators. In May of this year the company also received distinction as a Socially Responsible Company for the seventh consecutive year.
Agnico Eagle has received other important certifications, including the Clean Industry distinction awarded by the Fed-eral Attorney’s Office for Envi-ronmental Protection (Profepa);
compliance with the Gender Equality model; the Family Friendly Company distinction by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (STPS); the “Dis-tintivo H” emblem, and “Punto Limpio” (clean point) in the min-ing camps, among others.
oUTLooK and sTrong Per-ForMancePinos Altos is driven by through-put and higher grades. In the first quarter of 2015, payable gold production totaled 50,106 ounc-es from the Pinos Altos mill and heap leach pad at a total cash cost per ounce of 357 USD on a by-product basis. Silver produc-tion totaled 562,000 ounces in the quarter.
In the same quarter, Pinos Altos processed 584,000 tons of ore. The Pinos Altos mill aver-aged 5,661 tons/day, while ap-proximately 74,300 tons of ore were stacked on the Pinos Altos leach pad. The mine site costs in the quarter were 46 USD per ton.
The 106 million Pinos Altos shaft sinking project remains on schedule for completion in 2016. Shaft sinking is ongoing (current-ly at a depth of approximately
532 meters), and development activities have commenced on level 27. When the shaft is com-pleted, it will allow better match-ing of the mill capacity with the future mining capacity at Pinos Altos, once the open pit mining operation begins to wind down, as planned over the next several years.
Creston Mascota has shown additional ore mined outside of the block model. In the first quarter of 2015, pay-able gold production totaled 12,448 ounces from the Cres-ton Mascota heap leach pad at a total cash cost per ounce of 444 on a by-product basis. Sil-ver production totaled 32,000 ounces in the quarter.
La india - neW record For QUarTerLy goLd ProdUcTion Approximately 1,378,500 tons of ore were stacked on the La India leach pad during the first quarter of 2015, compared to approximately 1,018,900 tons stacked in the first quarter of 2014.
Payable gold production at La India in the first quarter of 2015 was a record 26,523 ounc-
es due to higher than expected grades and tonnage stacked. The total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis were 418 USD.
In the same period, approx-imately 527,000 tons of ore were stacked on the Creston Mascota leach pad. The mine site costs were 11 per ton. Ad-ditional ore was encountered outside the block model, which resulted in more tons at lower grade being stacked.
Agnico Eagle continues to evaluate a number of regional satellite opportunities. A six thousand meters in-fill and con-version drill program is under-way on the Sinter deposit. The results are scheduled to be in-corporated into a scoping study along with metallurgical testing and geotechnical data in order to better understand the devel-opment potential of this zone.
Geotechnical fieldwork is underway on the Phase 4 leach pad at Creston Mascota. Evalu-ation of the Bravo satellite zone will continue with a five thou-sand meters infill and conver-sion-drilling program expected to commence around mid-2015.
There are several other promising zones on the prop-erty including the Reyna de Plata and Sinter zones, which are part of the Reyna de Plata Fault. On the west side of this large property is Creston Mas-cota, and the Cubiro deposit is two kilometers west of Creston Mascota, which remains open to the northwest and at depth.
At Pinos Altos and Mascota, approximately 14,000 meters of infill and conversion drilling are planned in 2015 for the Sinter, Bravo and Cubiro satellite de-posits. This drilling, along with additional metallurgical testing and geotechnical studies, will be used to further evaluate the po-tential to develop these zones as satellite deposits to the existing operations. N
www.agnicoeagle.com
25
Negocios ProMéxico |
24 May 2015
| Negocios ProMéxico
May 2015
Torex Gold Resources Inc. is a Canadian mining company that operates in the state of Guer-rero. The construction of its Limón-Guajes mine has been fully financed between equity and project debt.
The company—focused ex-clusively on mining precious metals—has a clear mission and will not depart from it: it will conclude the construction of the Limón-Guajes mine and then, on the same site, it will have the opportunity to build a second mine: Media Luna. “This will keep us busy for a few years”—says Fred Stan-ford—. “Then we will be in a better position to diversify.”
Typically, the average time between the discovery of a new deposit and the production phase is 18 years. The site that Torex Gold is working on to-day will start producing in its sixth year, at the end of 2015, which is pretty quick in terms of mining.
Torex Gold has been work-ing for the past five years in the zone southeast of the munici-pality of Cocula, over an area of 29,000 hectares. Their first mine will produce between 300,000 and 450,000 ounces of gold per year during its 10-year mine life. It is worth knowing that Peñasquito in Zacatecas is the largest gold
mine in Mexico, with a pro-duction of 450,000 ounces in 2014.
The second project, Media Luna, is expected to be an un-derground mine with current mineral resources of 5.8 mil-lion ounces of gold equivalent. Both mines total approximate-ly 12 million ounces in mineral resources.
“The Guerrero Gold Belt is an excellent place to explore,” says Stanford. The investment will amount to 800 million dollars. “If Media Luna turns out as expected, we could be mining in Mexico for the next 30 or 40 years.” The first mine will begin to produce gold be-
fore the end of 2015; by then—according to the company’s estimates—it will be one of the largest mines of its kind in Mexico.
For the construction phase, the Canadian company has contracted a workforce of 3,000 people. “Building the mine occupies many workers. Once the construction phase is over, the mine will operate with 500 to 600 people, and we have already begun the hir-ing process.”
coMMiTMenT To The coMMUniTyTorex Gold is careful and re-sponsible both to the environ-
torex Gold projects in the state of Guerrero are located in the strip known as the Guerrero Gold Belt. the first mine will involve an investment of 800 million dollars.
Mexico’s Partner Mexico’s Partnerphotos courtesy of torex gold
INTERVIEw wITH FREd STANFORd, CEO, TOREx GOLd, BY ROdRIGO CANSINO
TORex GOLdMininG with Full resPonsiBility
ment and its human capital. El Limón-Guajes is fully per-mitted and the corresponding operations certifications will be obtained once production begins. For example, the con-struction phase has met the highest international standards including the Equatorian Prin-ciples. While the mine has not yet extracted any metal, in the five years it has been in Guer-rero, Torex Gold has done a good job with a focus on envi-ronmental preservation. It has installed dry stack filtered tail-ings (stacking crushed rocks that remain after the minerals have been extracted from the ore.) Under this system, water is extracted from the tailings, all the water is then recycled in the process, thus preventing risk of failure from flooding, spillage or dispersion.
The company is also relo-cating a village with significant improvements to their stan-dards of living. “We improved the quality of the water they drink, which is now treated, built three-bedroom houses,
schools and two churches and a new road to improve the access to the nearby villages while keeping traffic away from the river and any possible contamination.” “In terms of new technologies being used in this project, we are also using for the first time in Mexico a RopeCon, which constitutes a conveyor belt that generates al-most one megawatt of electric-ity and its installation is less in-trusive to the environment be-cause the conveyor is basically suspended from two towers for its operation. This technology is used mainly in Europe and
has been recently introduced in the Americas, says Stanford.
For the resettlement of the town, Torex Gold invested 30 million dollars. But the company has not only safeguarded the en-vironment. Operations are also safe. From an economic point of view, there is long-term sustain-ability for employees.
chaLLenges in gUerreroGuerrero has been in the news in recent months. “The state has its challenges. The govern-ment has been extremely help-ful and has ensured that these challenges do not affect our
construction operations in any way. They have done everything possible to help and keep the community safe. The govern-ment has been involved and has ensured that these challenges will not damage future pros-pects. The situation is difficult, but we have a lot of support, so that helps,” says Stanford.
hand in hand WiTh Pro-MéxicoTorex Gold worked closely with ProMéxico before settling in this country. “ProMéxico has been very important,” concludes Stanford. “We have worked with the institution since the company was estab-lished here, almost six years ago. It has helped us every step of the way. First, with the team’s base in Toronto, and then, as we move forward, the team in Mexico City has par-ticipated as well. We are very grateful for the attention and help we have received from the ProMéxico team.” N
www.torexgold.com
27
Negocios ProMéxico |
26 May 2015
| Negocios ProMéxico
May 2015
Peñasquito, in Zacatecas, is the most important operation in the world for this Canadian mining company, according to its Regional Director of Cor-porate Affairs and Security in Latin America. Gold, silver, lead, copper and zinc are ex-tracted from this mine that di-rectly employs 7,000 workers.
Goldcorp has a portfolio of 12 active mines in the Ameri-cas. In Mexico it operates three and is exploring another one. Mexico is one of the leading countries for Goldcorp, repre-senting approximately 30% of its global production in recent years.
Goldcorp is targeting the use of the energy reform pro-posed by President Enrique Peña Nieto, and approved by Congress. Energy is a key input for mining, and the reform will lower costs. “We evaluated the possibilities of producing re-newable energy, since the re-form will improve the regula-tory framework,” says Michael Harvey.
Energy reform opens win-dows of opportunity for min-ing companies to venture into other areas, such as hydrocar-bons and power generation. “Goldcorp —Harvey assures— will continue to focus on gold production, which until now has been extremely profitable, and positions us as the leading producer of gold in terms of market capitalization.”
ProdUcing WiTh QUaLiTy and eFFiciencyGoldcorp aims to produce with quality and efficiency, and thus keep costs under control. It wants to become the best com-pany, but not necessarily the largest. To achieve these goals, high quality projects and pro-grams have been undertaken, in addition to its strategy of en-gaging and not deviating from their core business, in which they have been very successful.
Their efforts have yielded good results. In 2014 Goldcorp grew by 11%, which resulted in between 3 and 3.13 million ounces of gold globally. The company faced several chal-lenges in 2014, including lower prices for precious metals, which impacted production costs. “The industry allowed costs to rise at the same rate as prices, so margins never in-creased, generating a complex situation for the industry when prices fell,” says Harvey.
However, Goldcorp did not remain passive in the face of the situation. The company un-dertook efficiency programs to focus on higher quality produc-tion. And productivity must be accompanied by due care for the staff and the environment.
recogniTionGoldcorp obtained, for the eighth consecutive year, recog-nition as a socially responsible company, and in 2015 joined
In recent years Mexico has accounted for approximately 30% of the company s global gold production.
Mexico’s Partner Mexico’s Partnerphotos courtesy of goldcorp
INTERVIEw wITH MICHAEL HARVEY, REGIONAL dIRECTOR OF CORpORATE AFFAIRS ANd SECURITY, GOLdCORp LATIN AMERICA, BY pROMéxICO
GOLdcORPa shininG Future
the NASDAQ Sustainability Index; it is a signatory to the Global Compact of the United Nations, the Extractive Indus-tries Transparency Initiative, and the International Cyanide Management Code, and com-plies with all parameters set by the Gold Conflict-Free Certifi-cate of the World Gold Council.
On the NASDAQ award, Chuck Jeannes —President and CEO of Goldcorp— reported to the global press that: “We are proud once again to be recognized as a global leader in our business’s sustainability practices. This list highlights Goldcorp’s commitment to re-
sponsible mining and to creat-ing sustainable value for all our shareholders. We appreciate be-ing formally recognized by ex-ternal organizations that give us feedback on our programs and thus fulfill the targets set in our worldwide operations.”
Furthermore, Goldcorp in Mexico holds environmental certifications issued by the au-thorities, such as the Federal Bureau of Environmental Pro-tection. The company also re-ceived two endorsements for its operation’s clean industry certification.
Technology and the use of innovative practices as old as
the mining sector itself implies a contradiction. One of the ini-tiatives at Peñasquito was to in-crease the intensity of the blast to improve mineral fragmenta-tion. “We’ve estimated a favor-able impact of 20 million dol-lars. At Los Filos (another mine located in the southern state of Guerrero) we increased the flow of the shredder thanks to improved maintenance, and we increased its capacity for even greater savings,” says Harvey.
resPonsibiLiTy To The envi-ronMenTGoldcorp is committed to gen-erating sustainable prosperity in the locations it operates, which adopt safe mining practices. The company and its employees are aware of their responsibility with the environment and its surroundings. Therefore, they share the socioeconomic ben-efits with the shareholders, em-ployers and partners, as well as local communities.
Currently, Goldcorp partici-pates in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and complies with the International Cyanide Management Code.
The company was recog-nized by various bodies to take leadership in publicizing the carbon footprint, energy usage, water consumption, hazardous and non-hazard-ous waste, the level of em-ployee safety, diversity of the workforce, managerial com-position and investment in communities.
Goldcorp respects and pro-tects the environment and vul-nerable species, as well as areas of high biodiversity, and places that have special social and cul-tural significance.
The company is aware that this vision of its operations will continue to grow and benefit all stakeholders, maintaining a positive balance between min-ing activities, the community and the environment.
Today, the most important goal is safety. With a grow-ing, stable and low-cost pro-duction, the company seeks to build on the six pillars that sustain it: the welfare of peo-ple, security, alliances, margins, reserves and production. N
www.goldcorp.com
29
Negocios ProMéxico |
28 May 2015
| Negocios ProMéxico
May 2015
With falling prices of metals in the market and volatility in the exchange rate, mining companies have sharpened their wits to avoid stagnation.
In order to maintain production, mining companies have chosen to merge. An ex-ample of this trend is the American Coeur Mining company, which will receive ap-proval from the Federal Economic Com-petition Commission of Mexico to finalize the merger with the mining hectares that Paramount Gold & Silver owns in Chihua-hua. The transaction is valued at 146 mil-lion dollars, and reflects a strategy to offset falling production in the Palmarejo mine, located on an adjoining plot of land. With this operation, the company guarantees its operation in the region for eight more years, in order to produce up to 8 million ounces of silver.
Mario Cantú, General Coordinator of the Mining Department at the Ministry of Economy, says that the country’s mining sector is going through a difficult period because of low prices, but has great poten-tial in polymetallic mining and a favorable
environment for investing. “Mexico has doubled its production capacity of copper and gold, but what is more important is that the cost of operation in different min-erals remains competitive,” he said during the Latin American Down Under mining conference held this year in Australia.
WiTh an eye ToWard MexicoAbout 10% of the transactions that have taken place in the country in the past two and a half years belong to the min-ing sector. The figures show that Canada is, without doubt, the most active country in this regard. Approximately 65% of min-ing transactions during this period have involved a Canadian company, according to Pablo Rión y Asociados, a merger and acquisitions consulting firm.
After Canada, which has made 43 deals worth an estimated 359.6 billion dollars, comes the USA, with 13 opera-
Special report photos archive
by RAqUEL RIVAS
PROceSSeS ANd AcquiSiTiONSin the MininG seCtor
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tions in Mexico for a total of 115.7 billion dollars. The next three countries on the list are Australia, China and the UK.
Despite the difficulties that the sector is facing, the outlook for Mexico is favor-able. A 2013 report prepared by Metals Economic Group ranks the country as the first destination for investment in min-ing exploration in Latin America, and the fourth in the world.
For the time being, Australian mining companies have a greater presence in other countries in the region. “Mexico has six Australian companies, while other coun-tries have around 30,” says Cantú. But he stresses that Peña Nieto’s government is interested in attracting more Australian companies in mining services, equipment and technology (METs).
The jeWeLs oF The croWnOf the 84 deals made in the past two and half years, four stand out with a total value of 808.8 billion dollars. First comes Com-ercializadora de Metales Fresnillo, which bought a 44% stake in the El Bermejal mine, Desarrollos Mineros Fresne, and Proveedora de Equipo y Minera Penmont, for a total of 477 million dollars.
Next comes the acquisition of Kupari Holdings in late 2014, by the Canadian company Cobre Del Mayo, for a total of 220 million dollars. With this operation,
the Canadian firm was able to increase its strategic value, simplify and optimize the allocation of minerals between processes, facilitating improvements in those involv-ing both heap leaching and flotation, while diversifying its operational risk through another process and product.
For its part, the American mine Ar-gonaut Gold acquired the San Agustín, Durango, project of Silver Standard Re-sources, for a sum of 71.8 billion dollars. The project includes 1.6 million ounces of gold and 48 million ounces of silver from 121 tons. In addition, the inferred re-source totals 1.06 million ounces of gold and 37 million ounces of silver from 91.2 million tons.
Fourth is the acquisition of the Cerro del Gallo project by the Canadian compa-ny Primero Mining, for approximately 40 billion dollars. In May 2013 the company first acquired a stake equivalent to 69.2% of the Cerro del Gallo project, from Cerro Resources NL, while the remaining 30.8% belonged to Goldcorp Inc, until December 2013. The land (25,269 hectares) covers a total of 12 adjacent mining concessions, all owned by San Antón de las Minas in the state of Guanajuato. These concessions cover this entire mining district, including mines that were previously used for high-grade mineralization in veins for produc-ing gold and silver. N
After Canada, which has made 43 deals worth an estimated 359.6 billion dollars, comes the USA, with 13 operations in Mexico for a total of 115.7 billion dollars. The next three countries on the list are Australia, China and the UK.
Despite the difficulties that the sector is facing, the outlook for
Mexico is favorable. A 2013 report prepared by Metals Economic
Group ranks the country as the first destination for investment in mining
exploration in Latin America, and the fourth in the world.
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Mexico has recently established mining clusters in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora and Zacatecas.
Mining has become one of the industries that generate most foreign currency for Mexico, after the automotive, electronic and oil sectors. Thanks to the Mining Development Program 2013-2018 intro-duced by President Enrique Peña Nieto, today states with a major mining presence are developing collaborative strategies with the public and private sectors, di-rectly linking the mining industry in each entity and designing instruments for ex-ploiting the opportunities offered by these synergies.
The Mining Cluster of Zacatecas was officially inaugurated on October 23, 2012. Five months later, the one in Chi-huahua was formalized in March 2013. One year later, the Oil-Mining Cluster of Coahuila was created, on March 13, 2014,
while the one in Sonora was officially in-augurated on July 10, 2014.
Moreover, eight state mining councils operate (in Baja California, Colima, Es-tado de México, Guerrero, Nayarit, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa and Sonora), who regularly hold sessions based on their statutes. Six other similar councils (in Michoacán, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Querétaro and Campeche) are under de-velopment.
Under the Mining Development Pro-gram, the creation of mining clusters is a priority task in Mexico, as these multi-sec-tor organizations join efforts that bolster the development of the country’s mining industry, serving the requirements of pro-ductivity, competitiveness and inclusive development.
Special report photo archive
by RAqUEL RIVAS wITH INFORMATION FROM INTERVIEwS wITH ROGELIO MONTEMAYOR, pRESIdENT, CLúSTER MINERO-pETROLERO dE COAHUILA, A. C., ANd jAIME ANdRéS CRUz RUSSEk, pRESIdENT OF THE CHIHUAHUA MINING CLUSTER
MiNiNG cLuSTeRS BOOST The iNduSTRy
Mining in Mexico is, along with agriculture, the industry that is
most involved with communities and municipalities.
The activity is present in 24 of the country’s 32 states.
a sTrengThened indUsTryMining in Mexico is, along with agricul-ture, the industry that is most involved with communities and municipalities. The activity is present in 24 of the country’s 32 states. Formal mining builds and operates mines and plants of high quality, with a sustainable approach. These clusters have achieved the goal of bringing together sup-pliers and consumers.
The National Institute of Statistics, Ge-ography and Informatics (INEGI) states that Sonora has the highest annual value of mining production per state with 4.2 mil-lion dollars, followed by Zacatecas with 3 million, and Chihuahua with 1.8 million. It also indicates that Sonora is the leading producer of gold, copper and molybdenum, while Zacatecas shows a great advantage when it comes to silver, lead and zinc.
The annual value of mining produc-tion totaled 14.2 billion dollars by the end of 2014, and created over two million direct and indirect jobs, according to the Mining Chamber of Mexico. This agency also reported that during 2013 there were 1,548 active mines and nineteen metal-lurgical plants, while 1,165 projects were under exploration.
The coahUiLa Mining and Pe-TroLeUM cLUsTerEnergy reform opened investment op-portunities for both Mexican and for-
eign enterprises. Companies associated with Clúster Minero-Petrolero de Coa-huila, A. C. are preparing to participate in the value chain of the industry in more competitive conditions, in order to reach new markets and access resources for the development of products and services through the various funds available for national suppliers and contractors in the energy industry.
“The results of reform can already be perceived,” says Rogelio Montemayor, President of Clúster Minero-Petrolero de Coahuila. Pemex has intensified its invest-ment plans in this state from Rounds Zero and One, and there are investment plans that will result in thousands of new jobs between 2015 and 2018.
“As a result of the modernization of the transmission network and distribu-tion of electricity, together with the sub-stitution of fuel oil by natural gas in some power plants, it has been possible to re-duce electricity rates for industry and for households,” he says.
“In the coming years, with a more competitive energy industry, we will be able to purchase gasoline at lower prices, while electricity rates will also drop as the production of natural gas and oil increase. This will generate a reduction in the cost of supplies for the industry, which in turn will be reflected in better prices of final goods,” explains Montemayor.
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infrastructure to increase either produc-tion or oil exports. Transport infrastruc-ture (roads, railways, airports and logis-tical services), as well as telecommunica-tions networks must also be created and modernized.
The supply chain of the sector is expe-riencing a period of evolution. Before the energy reform, it was primarily focused on the requirements of Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). Now, the companies participating in the chain and those interested in joining need to adapt to worldwide demands and con-ditions. As they evolve, domestic enter-prises will not only provide products and services to operators and contractors in Mexico, but they will be able to meet all the requirements for participating in the global industry.
Clúster Minero-Petrolero de Coa-huila, through its Committee of Suppli-ers, is developing projects for companies to better integrate into the industry chain, or to strengthen their presence there, ei-ther through agreements with operators, searching for business opportunities, or generating information on the sector, among other options.
The viTaL hUMan resoUrceRogelio Montemayor states that the cluster created a Human Resources Committee to coordinate activities related to training hu-man resources in the field of hydrocarbons for the State of Coahuila. “In this commit-tee a state program, aligned with the na-tional program, was developed, in which strategies and implementing actions were set; including those that promote train-ing of professionals and technicians in the new industry, as well as those that support
the conversion of the existing curricula in engineering degrees, giving priority to in-novation and technological development required by this new economic activity.”
The Human Resources Committee conducts a process that links them with participating universities and institu-tions in order to identify the best prac-tices required by the sector, and simul-taneously discover Mexican talent in the energy field.
“In connection with the development of qualified suppliers,” Montemayor af-firms, “we are currently developing a train-ing program with courses and diplomas, to be held in various cities of the state.” An organization like this gives confidence to its members, through transparency and better corporate governance practices. The results, and matters under discussion, are then presented to a board of associates.
The formation of a cluster can be an effective tool for regional development, since it helps identify local problems and proposes solutions adjusted to the reality of the region at hand. Besides, the joint efforts implied by the triple propeller can achieve common goals, generating great-er bargaining power with governments, and allowing improvement of local sup-pliers through the promotion of strategic alliances, certifications and high-level networking.
chihUahUa Mining cLUsTerChihuahua, a state in northern Mexico, stands out as a producer of gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc, with total sales of 1.7 billion dollars in 2014. It produced 22,503 kilograms of gold, and occupied the third position in terms of extraction, representing 18.9% of the national total.
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Before the energy reform, the cluster was primarily focused on the requirements of Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
Clúster Minero-Petrolero de Coahuila can be considered as a two-way bridge: on one side it serves foreign operators inter-ested and involved in Mexico with the cer-tainty that an efficient network and quality information is in place; and on the other side Mexican companies and workers can participate in the industry’s global supply chain.
The cluster works according to a methodology which categorizes chain par-ticipants as contractors or licensees, opera-tors, service companies and industry sup-pliers. Of all participating organizations, 40% are already suppliers to the industry and 90% are able to offer a product or service. “Besides, agreements have been signed with service companies like Shell and Weatherford, and we’re looking to establish relationships with British Petro-leum and Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex),” adds Montemayor.
Formed by a triple propeller, the clus-ter includes more than forty companies, eleven higher education institutions, three research centers, seventeen municipal gov-ernments and the Government of the State of Coahuila. On the other hand, in order to strengthen the structure, the cluster has signed agreements with business organiza-tions like the Mexican Employer’s Confed-
eration (Coparmex), the National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (Canacin-tra), and other institutions like the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and the Federal Commission of Regulatory Im-provement (Cofemer).
iMMediaTe chaLLengesIn the cluster, several challenges have been identified to overcome so that the hydro-carbon industry can develop effectively. These challenges relate to gaps in special-ized supplies for the sector, skilled human resources, infrastructure, protocols for monitoring and repairing environmental damage, communication strategies with communities, knowledge of legal proce-dures by property owners, and the genera-tion of innovation and technology.
One of the main objectives of enact-ing energy reform is the increase in oil and gas production that will allow Mexi-co to supply its domestic market and im-prove prices of domestic supplies. Thus, through the new opportunities for explo-ration and extraction of hydrocarbons in areas that will be tendered in Round One and subsequent rounds, production of hydrocarbons will increase thanks to the use of new technologies, because at this time Mexico does not have the necessary
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“As a result of the modernization of the transmission network and
distribution of electricity, together with the substitution of fuel oil by natural gas in some power plants,
it has been possible to reduce electricity rates for industry and for
households.”
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With respect to silver, the state extract-ed over one million kilograms, equivalent to 17.4% of the national total. Copper production totaled 16,430 tons; lead, 59,844 tons; and zinc, 137,596 tons.
The mining sector in Chihuahua di-rectly employs 18,000 people, and has cre-ated around 91,000 indirect jobs. Its main export destinations are Canada, the USA and China.
services and aLLiancesThe Chihuahua Mining Cluster consists of 100 companies, including service pro-viders and suppliers. Fifteen of the 16 mega mines in the state are part of this group.
The cluster has 11 major mining companies, of which four are Mexican (Frisco, Grupo México, Peñoles and Rio Tinto). The rest are Canadian and USA investments (Goldcorp, Agnico Eagle, Coeur Mining, GoGold Resources, Sier-ra Metals, Mag Silver and Panamerican Silver).
Input suppliers range from small com-panies that provide catering for mining camps, to highly specialized companies in technology development. “To this we must add the support of service providers (legal, accounting, tax, environmental, ecological and marketing consultants, among others),” says Jaime Andrés Cruz Russek, President of the Chihuahua Mining Cluster.
In order to support its members, the Chihuahua Mining Cluster—headed by leaders of the mining companies and other entrepreneurs in the state—is in touch with agencies at the three levels of government, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and business chamber associations. Also, the cluster is in alliance with the state At-torney General to reinforce safety issues pertaining to the mining sector. Efforts have likewise been coordinated with the Federal Labor Delegation so that mem-bers of the cluster can adopt a health and safety in the workplace self-management model.
With regard to development of quality suppliers, the association has established alliances with both the Chihuahua Center for Competitiveness and La Salle Univer-sity’s Innovation Park. Other vital syner-gies have been established with universi-ties and technological institutes, such as the Chihuahua branch of ITESM and the Chihuahua Institute of Technology, which have developed a prototype simulator of journeys inside mines without having to physically go to the sites.
Also, the Chihuahua Mining Cluster offers training courses focused on basic safety criteria for mines, and it supports the Seed Museum Center by equipping the Mining Pavillion, allowing children to learn more about the activities and benefits of the mining sector.
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Three Major ProjecTsIn the context of energy reform and the opportunities it represents in terms of cost reduction, the cluster’s authorities have confirmed that they are awaiting new regulations regarding liberalization and development in the electric power market in the next couple of years.
For its part, the mining association created a portfolio of mining properties on the market, with the intention of attracting new investment. It also developed the Clu-min Mining Necessities Directory, which identifies the supply needs in Chihuahua and pinpoints over 300 areas of opportu-nity for business development.
According to estimates, 4 billion dol-lars will be invested in Mexican mining activities in 2015; these resources will pro-ceed mainly from domestic capital. Last year the industry was devoted to adjusting and leveling the price of metals. A report by the Chihuahua Mining Cluster warns that “the mining industry will have a more stable 2015, but with less investment than a year ago,” cites Cruz Russek.
There are three large mining projects in Chihuahua that will be consolidated dur-ing the rest of this year. The first is the San Julián project, with an investment of 520 million dollars that will generate more than 3,000 jobs in its initial phase for the benefit of the regions of Guadalupe and Calvo.
The Canadian company Cyprium Mining Corporation is developing a sec-ond investment project for 4.5 million dol-lars, to optimize operating processes and double the capacity of its flotation plant in the municipality of Aldama.
Finally, Minera del Norte, a subsidiary of Altos Hornos de México, leads a third major project. It will be implemented at “La Negra” mine, in Camargo, where iron is extracted, with a five million dollar in-vestment. During its first phase, the mine will create 100 direct jobs. N
www.clumin.orgwww.clustercoahuila.org.mx
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CMIC’s mission—as well as that of its min-ing sector division—is to promote and dis-seminate events associated with mining and construction, while promoting the partici-pation of specialized companies affiliated to the mining sector. The Chamber takes part in conferences and mining boards in order to promote their related institutions, support training, research and innovations applicable to the mining sector.
In 2013 a Joint Committee of the Min-ing Sector was formed. Since then, this committee has promoted the participation of businessmen in the construction sector.
Mining leads by example, developing new technologies for its own operation, such as the use of waste water in its processes, as well as the use of seawater. Another step forward in this process will be conducted by a research team from the Department of Process Engineering and Hydraulics at the UAM, who will begin work on lixiviation by thiourea electro-oxidation in a plant.
Lixiviation (or leaching) refers to the extraction of solid residue by the action of a liquid solvent; that is, a process in which a liquid solvent passes through pul-verized solid material to cause dissolution of one or more soluble components of the material. This process will be conducted at Peñoles Mining facilities, by processing a ton of concentrate by flotation.
The method of thiourea leaching is not new, except for the innovation proposed by the Mexican team. In general terms, it in-volves the use of an electrochemical reactor that will almost entirely take advantage of the thiourea (an organosulfured compound), thanks to its recirculation along the process.
If the company—which is subsidiz-ing the study—obtains positive results, a true revolution will occur in the industry,
because it is a method for obtaining gold without cyanide.
conTribUTion To The Mining secTor• The mining-metallurgical sector in
Mexico contributes 4.9% of GDP.• In May 2013 it generated 337,598
direct jobs and more than 1.6 million indirect jobs, according to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).
• A totalof2.3billiondollarswereal-located to new projects in mining,
17.4% higher than in the same period last year (1.9 billion dollars).
The mining industry in Mexico and the federal government are promoting an en-vironment friendly sector. To comply with worldwide environmental regulations, the General Coordination of Mines was cre-ated. Through the General Directorate of Mining Regulation this instance provides environmental advice to mining licensees, and gives notice of the location of lots in protected natural areas.
Grupo Mexico, for example, operates in this fashion. The company’s environ-mental commitments are to:
• Improve the efficiency of recoveredwater consumption
• Improve the energy efficiencyof eachoperating unit
• Achievecleanindustrycertifications• Duplicatetheproductionofnurseries,
from two to four million trees, and• ImprovefuelefficiencyN
www.cmic.org
By developing new technologies for its own operation, mining is leading by example.engineers at the autonomous Metropolitan university (uaM), in conjunction with the General Coordination of Mines, are encouraging this industry to become world class.
Guest opinionphotos courtesy of cmic
BY MARCOS GLUYAS SOLóRzANO, ExECUTIVE COORdINATOR OF THE MINING SECTOR AT THE MExICAN CHAMBER OF THE CONSTRUCTION INdUSTRY (CMIC)
WORLd cLASSMininG
Figures
MiNiNG cLuSTeRS iN MexicO
chihuAhuA MiNiNG cLuSTeR
Affiliates: 73
Mining in chihuahua data the mining industry uses only 1.2% of available water in the northwestern basin. authorized land use for mining is 0.015% of the total area of the state.
Main extracted metals Gold, silver, zinc, copper, lead and iron.
Major mines in operation Metallic, non-metallic and material banks
MiNiNG cLuSTeR OF SONORA
Affiliates: Not available
Mining in Sonora data Mining in the state of Sonora in recent years has been the most important in the country. Production levels in metallic minerals such as copper and molybdenum, and non-metallic minerals such as graphite and wollastonite, place it in first place nationwide. Sonora is the only producer of molybdenum, amorphous graphite and wollastonite.
Main extracted metals Gold, silver, aluminum, copper, iron, molybdenum and barite.
Major mines in operation Metallic, non-metallic and material banks
MiNiNG cLuSTeR OF ZAcATecAS
Affiliates: 96 in 172 projects.
Mining in Zacatecas data the mining industry in Zacatecas is one of the most modern in the country, where national and international companies participate. GoldCorp extracted 691,100 ounces of gold in its three mining units, and ranks second in silver mining. Zacatecas is the largest producer of silver in Mexico, contributing 48% of the total national extraction and processing of this metal. other metals that are extracted from the state are zinc, lead, and copper, among others.
Main extracted metals Gold, silver, cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc.
Major mines in operation Metallic, non-metallic and material banks
MiNiNG ANd PeTROLeuM cLuSTeR OF cOAhuiLA
Affiliates: 44 companies, 11 educational institutions and 3 research centers.
Mining in coahuila data the Mining and Petroleum Cluster of Coahuila is a civil association that integrates companies from all sectors. 22.6% of the total surface of the state is under concession for mining.
Main extracted metals Gold, silver, antimony, bismuth, cadmium, copper, tin, iron, lead and zinc.
Major mines in operation Metallic, non-metallic and material banks
Source: Cluster Web pages, with Mexican Geological Survey Data
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Mexico has been a mining country throughout its history. Mexican minted silver circulated around the world until the early twentieth century as a widely accept-ed currency for international transactions. Today, Mexico is one of the main world producers of silver, lead, molybdenum, zinc, copper and gold, and other minerals such as celestite or strontium carbonate, fluorite and sodium sulfate.
Because of its history, the degree of de-velopment and the geological environment of its territory, the Mexican mining indus-try stands out among the most important activities in the country, even though the oil and manufacturing (mainly automo-tive) industries, and tourism, are sectors of the Mexican economy with a greater share of the Gross Domestic Product.
Among other competitive advantages, mining in Mexico has four main charac-teristics, although we will focus on one in particular:
1) Mexico has great geological potential, which is far from being fully evaluated, much less exploited.
2) To speak of mining as an activity with a historic tradition means that in Mex-ico there is a skilled workforce for min-ing and several regions of the country that are familiar with this activity.
3) In Mexico there are no laws that limit or hinder the free flow of capital for investing in mining or for repatriation of earnings.
4) The current Mining Law has proved functional, in accordance with the
Mexico’s mining vocation is based mainly on the stability and simplicity of the legislation, which has allowed the unhindered development of this industry.
Guest opinion Guest opinionphotos archive
by FEdERICO kUNz, dIRECTOR OF kUNz ABOGAdOS, S.C.
MexicAN MiNiNG LAWhealthy develoPMent For the industry
country’s reality and industry; simple in its implementation and in support of the legal certainty that all investments require.
We can now focus on the Mining Law as such, which establishes the rules for mining concessions; the rights and ob-ligations of licensees, as well as the legal framework for the mining authority. The law has only 61 articles, and its regula-tions only 108 sections.
Before turning to the law in particu-lar, it is relevant to note that in Mexico, following the legal tradition developed in the Spanish Middle Ages, the ownership of the mineral resources corresponds, for practical purposes, to the Mexican State, as before they belonged to the King, and individuals can obtain theses resources through mining concessions granted by the same government, because the owner of the land on the surface does not have the right of ownership over the minerals.
The current Mining Law came into ef-fect in 1992 and has had only a few re-forms, in 2005, and recently, in 2014. The first reform was to further simplify the operation of mining concessions, and the second was the result of the recent energy reforms in Mexico.
This law applies to most of the mineral substances, but does not address oil, gas and radioactive minerals—which have their
own law—, and also doesn’t include gravel, sand and building materials in general, that do not have specific regulatory laws.
The general rule is that mining con-cessions are granted to the first person who makes the request, if the area is not already occupied by another concession or pending application, and the licensee is required to pay a fee (tax), make invest-ments and exploit the concession to keep it legally in force.
Concessions can be obtained by Mexi-can individuals or corporations, in which there are no restrictions on the nationality of the shareholders; i.e., they must be com-panies incorporated in Mexico, but up to 100% of the shareholders can be foreign citizens or companies.
There is no limit to the surface of each concession. Very large areas can be a part of a concession, provided that the licensee can pay the surface mining rights (tax), and has the resources to invest in the mine. These obligations depend on the number of hectares of the concession itself.
There is also no limit to the number of concessions each licensee can obtain. Only their economic capacity to carry out the investments and payments in accordance with the law is considered.
Unlike previous mining laws or those that are in effect in other countries, ac-cording to the Mexican law the transfer of concessions can be made freely, without
In Mexico, following the legal tradition developed in the Spanish Middle Ages, the ownership of the mineral resources corresponds, for practical purposes, to the Mexican State, as before they belonged to the King, and individuals can obtain theses resources through mining concessions granted by the same government, because the owner of the land on the surface does not have the right of ownership over the minerals.
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government authorization, and there are no rules that can limit them.
The owner of a concession can sell it or rent it, without further restrictions. The only rule is that the person who buys or rents it must be legally capable of having his own mining concessions.
There is also no limitation on produc-tion volumes or restrictions on exporting minerals. The marketing of mineral prod-ucts, whether obtained directly from the mines, or refined metals with over 99% purity grades, is totally free, except for the recent case of iron ore, which is subjected to prior permission for exporting, in order to ensure its legitimate origin.
Mexico is a net exporter of products of mineral origin, which means that its market-ing platform is totally global; reference prices are always those on the markets of London and New York, with the characteristic varia-tions these transactions have worldwide.
Besides the fact that the Mexican min-ing law is simple in its application and has been shown to allow the healthy develop-ment of the industry, it is also a law that has been in place for 23 years, with very few changes, allowing licensees to consider long term investments with a stable regu-latory framework.
Although 23 years may seem a short term, we should mention that each time a new mining law has been issued in Mexico—in 1975, 1961, 1930, 1926, and 1909—, miners have always respected ac-quired rights. That is why two of the larg-est mining companies in Mexico are both over 100 years old, and the next in line are between 80 and 60 years old.
The laws have changed, but the mining concessions have remained in force, and today these businesses operate most of the major mines in the country. Like any other industrial activity, mining must comply not only with its own law—the Mining Law—, but also must act in compliance with environmental laws, tax laws in gen-eral, regulations on industrial safety, labor legislation and the rest of the legal system that applies to all businesses.
In recent years, mining companies op-erating in Mexico have worked decisively towards the development of sustainable mining, with social responsibility, respecting ecosystems, applying strict standards and es-tablishing strong links with the communities living within the scope of their activities, in accordance with the global trends. N
www.kunzabogados.com
Besides the fact that the Mexican mining law is simple in its
application and has been shown to allow the healthy development
of the industry, it is also a law that has been in place for 23 years, with very few changes, allowing licensees
to consider long term investments with a stable regulatory framework.
Mexico is the world leader in silver pro-duction and is among the ten largest producers in 19 minerals. According to the Mining Chamber of Mexico’s 2014 annual report, 70% of the national territory has potential for geological development.
The mining sector represents the fourth source of foreign currency income, behind the automotive, electrical and elec-tronic, and oil industries, according to the 2013-2018 Mining Development Program (Prodemin).
Both the Prodemin—developed by the Ministry of Economy—and the en-
ergy reform approved last year, generate expectations of productivity, savings and process efficiency, as well as the inclusion of SMEs in the supply chain, among other benefits.
ProdeMin acTionsDifferent strengths of the sector will be enhanced through the Prodemin, such as Mexico’s strategic geographical location, its skilled workforce, its world-class de-posits, and its legal certainty, by applying transparent rules and procedures that will facilitate investment in the sector.
The Prodemin—published in May 2014—is aligned to the objectives set out in the 2013-2018 National Development Plan, and seeks:
1. to promote higher levels of invest-ment and competitiveness in the min-ing sector;
2. additional financing in the mining sec-tor and its value chain;
3. to encourage the development of small and medium scale mining and “social mining” (i.e., local communities that have mineral resources); and
4. to modernize the institutional regula-tions of the sector, while improving attention to procedures related to mining concessions, including reply-ing to requests submitted by the pri-vate sector.
The Prodemin also specifically in-cludes the need to expand domestic mar-kets to participate in the exploration and exploitation of minerals used in the
the 2013-2018 Mining Development Program enhances the strengths of the mining industry, while energy reform offers savings in the electricity sector.
Guest opinionphotos archive
by ROdRIGO CANSINO
eNeRGy ReFORMnew oPPortunities in MininG
An important aspect of the energy reform is that it opens up new business opportunities for the mining industry, including power generation.
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Guest opinion
manufacture of high-tech products, such as titanium, cobalt and antimony, in ad-dition to rare soils, considered to be the mineral of the future.
The Mexican mining industry has dis-tinguished itself as one of the most com-petitive worldwide; from 2011 to 2014, Mexico was ranked as the fifth most at-tractive country to invest in this sector.
In 2014 Mexico only stood behind Canada, Australia, the USA and Chile, according to reports issued by Behre Dol-bear, a consulting firm specializing in min-ing services. The firm clarifies that it is im-portant to consider external factors such as the slowdown in China, among others, that have affected the prices of minerals. Therefore, the Prodemin is intended to serve as a tool for boosting the mining industry in Mexico, given its potential in terms of natural resources.
The Mexican states with the most sig-nificant mining activities have begun im-plementing alliances with the private and professional local sectors that are directly related to the industry. The purpose is to create synergies between the different par-ticipants to give rise to new business op-portunities for development at the local or regional level.
The energy reForMThe impact of energy reform in the mining sector will generate savings between 20%
and 30% in energy costs, according to the Mining Chamber of Mexico.
Another important aspect is that it opens new business opportunities for the mining industry, including power genera-tion. Coal mining companies can exploit coalbed gas—since mining concessions are entitled to exploit this gas—, which also brings more safety and better performance to the operation.
Mining companies would have an im-mediate advantage in the exploration and extraction of natural gas, because con-tracts would be awarded directly and not by competitive bidding. The potential of this business is 7.6 billion dollars.
While other energy industries have to wait for permits, dates and deadlines, de-posits of shale gas or natural gas in mines can be exploited immediately.
The first beneficiaries are the compa-nies that have mining concessions, since the Hydrocarbons Law provides that they will not be required to enter a bidding pro-cess in order to win a contract. They will be assigned directly, after receiving permis-sion from the Energy Regulatory Commis-sion (CRE).
The law specifies that this provision only applies to the exploration and extrac-tion of natural gas contained in coal veins. All other hydrocarbon reservoirs must be tendered for.
The Hydrocarbons Revenue Act recog-nizes that if the price of natural gas in the international market falls below five dollars per million BTUs (British Thermal Units), no royalties will be paid, given that the profit-ability of the projects is very low at this level.
There are over a hundred SMEs that have mining concessions in the state of Coahuila, for example, where the Mexi-can Geological Survey has identified mines with gas, near cities like Piedras Negras and Sabinas.
The shale gas market has a value of 3.8 billion dollars and may reach 7.6 billion, according to estimates. As for the demand of this hydrocarbon, an annual growth of 3.6% is estimated, increasing from 6,678 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) in 2012, to 11,424 MMcfd in 2027, accord-ing to a document on the market outlook for LP gas and natural gas for the 2013-2027 period published by the Ministry of Energy. N
The Mexican mining industry has distinguished itself as one of the most competitive worldwide; from 2011 to 2014, Mexico was ranked as the
fifth most attractive country to invest in this sector.
Throughout its history, Mexico has been a mining country, and still is today. Our coun-try has a vast wealth of mineral resources, both in precious and industrial metals, and in non-metallic minerals. Today, Mexico is one of the ten largest producers of silver, bismuth, fluorite, strontium, cadmium, lead and barite, to name a few.
Mining contributes 4% of national GDP. Investment in the mining-metallur-gic industry amounted to about five billion dollars in 2014. The geological potential of the country, coupled with the dynam-ics of investment observed in the sector, is indicative of great business opportunities for this industry.
Financing The Mining indUsTry in MexicoThe graph overleaf shows the evolution of credit extended by commercial and devel-opment banks to production in the mining industry (coal and derivatives, iron ore, non-ferrous metal ore, sand, gravel, clay and non-metallic minerals).
As noted, there are major opportuni-ties for financial institutions that support
the sector with credit. In this context, the importance of Fifomi stands out.
The Mining TrUsT FUndThe establishment of Fifomi dates back to 1934, when a presidential decree created the Mining Development Commission (Cofomi), predecessor of the current trust.
According to the “List of state enti-ties of the federal government subject to the Federal Law on Public Enterprises and its Regulations” (published in the Official Journal of the Federation on August 15, 2014), Fifomi is a state entity classified as a public trust, and is a part of Mexico’s financial system, under the Ministry of Economy.
As an entity specialized in the min-ing sector, it promotes the development of mining by providing financial services, training and technical assistance to create, strengthen and consolidate mining proj-ects and operations in the country.
Fifomi has the Ministry of Finance as trustor, Nacional Financiera as trustee, and is regulated by the National Banking and Securities Commission.
the Mining trust Fund (Fifomi) has been a major promoter in the development of national mining by funding, training and providing technical assistance to this sector.
Guest opinionphotos archive
by FIdEICOMISO dE FOMENTO MINERO (MINING TRUST FUNd)
FiFOMisuPPort For the MexiCan MininG industry
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ing for producers of minerals, companies that provide services to the mining industry, and primary consumers of minerals.
On the other hand, a permanent task of Fifomi is refining the quality of the loan portfolio by making a better selection of customers and a more complete analysis of projects.
Likewise, it seeks to maintain a balance in the loan portfolio between financial in-termediaries and direct project financing.
reFocUsing on TechnicaL assisTance and TrainingAs a complement to its lending activity, Fifomi provides technical assistance and training focused on mining operations and its supply chain.
In this regard, technical assistance pro-grams and training support focusing on small and medium-sized companies were redesigned. Focusing on technical assis-tance and training involves identifying the needs of the actors involved in the activi-ties of priority sectors.
The training courses that Fifomi pro-motes and organizes relate to specialized is-sues in technical and administrative areas for the mining sector and its value chain. Collab-oration with universities, organizations, state governments and companies is established to optimize human resources and materials.
Fifomi’s new focus on technical assis-tance seeks primarily to support explora-tion efforts and obtain direct credits for mineral producers and mining industry services, as well as specialized financial in-termediaries.
FiFoMi’s ProjecTionFifomi has contributed to the task of pro-moting mining in this country by drawing
on the experience and knowledge of the mining sector that the trust has accumu-lated over eighty years.
The institution has managed to main-tain its financial viability by diversifying the portfolio between financial intermedi-aries and direct loans; at the same time it has sought funding sources that increase competitiveness and ensure liquidity for lending, and it has strengthened the qual-ity of its credit analysis in order to select projects that are both economically and socially viable.
At Fifomi we are convinced that to achieve long-term objectives, we need to stay on track, thus consolidating the trust as a sound financial and technical assis-tance institution. N
www.fifomi.gob.mx
Guest opinion Guest opinion
It supports 110 activities related to min-ing and its value chain. Its spectrum of activ-ity ranges from mineral producers and pro-cessors of minerals, to providers of services to the mining industry, consumers, distributors and marketers of minerals. It has fourteen regional offices located in the states with the highest levels of mining, providing guidance on funding, training and technical assistance. It also has two subsidiaries: Exportadora de Sal, S. A. and Baja Bulk Carriers.
Fifomi’s strategy is led by the 2013-2018 National Development Plan (PND) and, in particular, the 2013-2018 Mining Development Program (Prodemin).
Prodemin envisages four major strate-gic objectives: 1) promote investment and competitiveness in the sector; 2) seek an increase in funding, including the entire value chain; 3) encourage the development of small and medium-scale mining as well as social mining; and 4) modernize institu-tional regulations, by improving attention to paperwork processes.
The strategies to meet these goals in-clude facilitating access to credit for com-panies in the sector and their suppliers; promoting the creation of mining clusters; and supporting the exploration and evalu-ation of projects.
FiFoMi’s neW aPProachIn keeping with its regulatory framework, from 2013 Fifomi has established long-term goals and metrics for evaluating and compar-ing its compliance over time. This new ap-proach defined ore producers, companies that provide services to the mining industry, and primary mineral consumers as priority areas.
Changes in the rules and flexibility of op-eration were required as a strategy to fund companies in the first link of the chain (ex-traction), as well as traders and processors who, in turn, dispersed funds to small min-eral producers. Therefore, the trust has taken action to facilitate funding access to compa-nies, mainly small and medium enterprises.
Fifomi funds are granted directly to mineral producers and processors, through financial intermediaries and non-financial dispensers, as “second floor” financing, di-rected towards smaller mining companies integrated into value chains as suppliers and distributors of minerals.
Thus, as strategies for the medium and long term, it seeks a stake focusing on pri-ority sectors, as well as an increase in fund-
PorTFoLio LeveL acTiviTy Financing For The Mining indUsTry(NoMINaL BaLaNCeS IN MILLIoNS oF PeSoS)FINANCIAMIENTO A LA INDUSTRIA MINERA
(Saldos nominales en millones de pesos)
Development BanksCommercial Banks
Period Total Loans to themining industry
Loans to themining industry
Total
2010 2,166,640 4,595 378,395 168
2011 2,506,277 5,000 408,104 133
2012 2,793,721 7,385 465,381 436
2013 3,047,804 5,218 548,992 985
2014 3,366,356 6,694 656,399 1,828
Source: BANXICO. http://banxico.org.mx
december 2012
ore producersLevel 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Providers of services to the mining industry
Mineral processors
Consumers, distribuitors and marketers
december 2014
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From the perspective of the Mining Cham-ber of Mexico (Camimex), we are a coun-try with a deep mining vocation. This ac-tivity is present in 28 of the 32 states of the Republic, and is an engine of develop-ment for the country, directly employing 340,000 people.
It is a hundred-year-old productive sector that has become one of the strate-gic levers of growth for Mexico through
its financial contribution, bringing social security, jobs, health services, education, housing and better quality of life to com-munities in regions where few other eco-nomic activities are developed.
Last year, mining contributed 4% of GDP and invested over 4.9 billion dollars. In addition, this industrial sec-tor stood in fourth place as a genera-tor of foreign revenue for the country,
behind the automotive, electronic and oil industries.
The mining sector is an important em-ployer in the country, offering long-term quality jobs, with wages 38% above the national average. In 2014 alone, 8,314 new jobs were created.
While working in this industry, men and women—who make up 10.3% of the workforce—received ongoing training, which helped raise their professionalism, security and personal growth.
Prices versUs TaxesNo doubt, like the rest of the world, min-ing in Mexico is not at its best. The col-lapse of international prices of metals has combined with new taxes for the sector. The application of new mining entitle-ments, along with the inability to deduct taxes on exploration expenditures in the year they are made, emphasized the con-traction of most mining indicators.
Due to the strategic importance of min-ing investment, including exploration as a key
Last year, mining contributed 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) and invested 4.9 billion dollars. In addition, this industrial sector stood in fourth place as generator of foreign revenue for the country, behind the automotive, electronic and oil industries.
Guest opinion photos courtesy of camimex
BY SERGIO ALMAzáN ESqUEdA, GENERAL dIRECTOR, MINING CHAMBER OF MExICO
MiNiNGstrateGiC lever For Growth in MexiCo
While working in this industry, men and women (who make up 10.3% of the workforce) received ongoing training, which helped raise their professionalism, security and personal growth.
Guest opinion
activity for the sustainability and competitive-ness of the sector, it is essential to create bet-ter conditions for its healthy development in the country. In 2014, the price of gold fell 10% compared to 2013; silver fell 20%; lead, 2.2%; copper, 6.4%; and iron, 28.5%.
Mining companies in the world re-sponded to the unfavorable conditions of the market with a 26% reduction in the non-ferrous metals exploration budget, compared to the previous year, and 53% less than in 2012.
Despite these adverse conditions, in-creased production is expected in 2015 due to the start of new projects, mine consolidation and announced increases in production at major mines.
Camimex is aiming to group, coordi-nate, represent and defend the interests of the mining industry before the different levels of government and other agencies, as well as providing information services, training, management and support to fos-ter their development. Promoting the inte-gral development of the industry demon-strates that the objective of consolidating mining as a responsible and sustainable industry, committed to healthy coexistence with people and the environment while seeking social benefits for the communities where they operate, can be pursued.
In fact, mining companies operating in Mexico invested seventy million dollars in community development and support during 2014, including support for imple-menting productive projects in the com-munities near mining installations, such as in construction and services in general. They also allocated 75 million dollars to environmental preservation initiatives.
The chamber has implemented various measures with members contributing to remain vigilant in terms of security within their operations. It is permanently promot-ing good practices in the mines to ensure the health and safety of workers.
Also, through an agreement with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Cami-mex is persuading many mining companies to adhere to the Safe Company Self-Man-agement Program. By the end of 2014, 135 workplaces had been incorporated to the Safety and Health at Work Self-Management Program. To date, 52 centers have received one of three safe company awards.
a Major consUMer oF energyThe mining sector ranks sixth in terms of energy consumption. In this sense, the energy reform driven by the federal government will allow mining compa-nies to become more competitive as they seek new investment opportuni-ties. While these opportunities crystal-lize and the international market mod-erates is volatility, the mining sector is working hard and with determination to contribute to the development and competitiveness of the country, as it has throughout history.
The mining sector’s commitment is to continue working for the develop-ment of Mexico, being more efficient in its processes and reducing operating costs, while prioritizing the preservation of jobs, the safety and training of its em-ployees, care for the environment and at-tention to communities. N
www.camimex.org.mx
Mining companies operating in Mexico invested seventy million dollars in community development and support during 2014, including support
for implementing productive projects in the communities near mining installations, such as in construction and services in general.
Figures
MiNeRALS iN MexicOWhaT aRE ThEy FOR?
Mexico is among the top ten producers of these minerals in the world, with applications unrecognized by their names, but they are present in many industries and objects we use every day.
BiSMuTh
It has numerous commercial applications, especially in cosmetology, production of pigments, and medicine.In the latter case it stands outas a component for treatingcolds, allergies and diarrhea.
WOLLASTONiTe
It is used in paints and coatings, ceramics, metallurgy and construction, among other industries. For ceramics, this metal considerably reduces cooking cycle times, thereby saving energyand reducing gaseous emissions.
Mexic
o’s position in the world ranking3rd
Mexic
o’s position in the world ranking2nd
FLuORiTe
It is mainly used to produce hydrofluoric acid, an essential material for manufacturingsynthetic cryolite, which is usedfor casting or aluminum electrolytic production. Also, it is used in large quantities for manufacturing enamels and translucent glass.
Mexic
o’s position in the world ranking2nd
cAdMiuM
It is used in high voltage metal platingapplications, certain glass filters, andmanufacturing pigments and plastics as a chemical catalyst. It is also used in electroplating (as a coating).
Mexic
o’s position in the world ranking4th
BARiTe
The main use of barite is in the oil industry, followed by the paint industry, where it is used as an acid resistant pigment. In the automotive industry it replaces asbestos as a friction agent for manufacturing linings for brakes. And, due to its high density, which allows it to absorb radiation, it is the metal of choice for protecting X Ray rooms.
Mexic
o’s position in the world ranking8th
MOLyBdeNuM
It is used in many alloys to producehardened steel, improving its toughness and resistance to high temperatures. It is also used in building and manufacturing tools and corrosion resistant parts. It is an essential metal in plant nutrition; the lack of this element in soil can reduce the fertility of the land.
Mexic
o’s position in the world ranking5th
diATOMiTe
It has multiple applications: in the beer industry, precious metals, wine, and ultramicroscopic separation of solids, among others. It enables greater clarity and flow reduction in filtered liquids. It is also used as a coating material or filler for plastics, insecticides, fertilizers, bricks, insulating materials, cement and more.
Mexic
o’s position in the world ranking7th
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ThE COmPlETE GuIDE TO ThE mExICan Way OF lIFE
Mining MuseumsFrom mining deposits to the preservation of memoryBy raquel rivas
Mines and BallsThe story of football in MexicoBy ósCar hernández
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Mexico’s UniQUe Mining ToWns
By MexiCo tourisM Board
mexico is a country rich in diversity. Wherever visitors go, they find different landscapes, customs, cuisines and cultures, such as the mining towns that are part of the nation’s colorful mosaic.
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PaLacio de Minería (PaLace oF Mining)Among the Mexican museums devoted to narrating the historical trajectory of mining exploitation in the country, Mexico City’s Palacio de Minería (Palace of mining) is no doubt the most famous. The building was designed and built by the Spanish architect Manuel Tolsá, finest example of neoclassical architecture in the country.
This palace was one of the first build-ings designed for teaching engineering and metallurgy, the main economic activity dur-ing the colonial period, and one of the main sources of wealth of the Spanish empire.
This majestic monument is part of the artistic and cultural heritage of the UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mex-ico), and is supervised by its Faculty of En-
gineering. Today, it houses the faculty’s Di-vision of Continuous Education, the Bruno Mascanzoni Information and Documenta-tion Center, the Historical Heritage of the Palace of Mining, the Manuel Tolsá Muse-um, and several engineers’ trade associations and administrative areas. The building also hosts an annual international book fair.
eL oro MUseUMThis Gold Mining Museum is located in Estado de México. Housed in a small Por-firian house, this museum—built at the en-trance to the mine La Providencia—offers a unique view of the history of mining in
Mining MuseuMsfrom mining deposits to the preservation of memory
Several museums dedicated to the world of mining have been established in what used to be authentic mines, and they offer time-traveling visitors a fascinating look at the interior of the earth.
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this region through photographs, docu-ments, maps and blueprints, some of them from the late eighteenth century.
El Oro was founded in 1772 by the first discoverers of the rich veins of the coveted metal in that area. These fine gold mines were considered the second richest in the world, only comparable to the Transvaal mines in Africa. The mining boom caused a significant population migration towards this area in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when vast deposits of other precious minerals were discovered.
La Providencia—which grew to a depth of over three hundred meters at dif-ferent levels—ceased operations in 1960, but nevertheless remains as an example of the mining boom that pervaded the coun-try at one time. The museum houses 250 different types of minerals and over 200 objects, including photographs, maps and tools. The five permanent exhibition halls, with an area of approximately 500 square meters, are visited by people of all ages.
La diFicULTadIn a similar fashion to La Providencia, the old silver mine of La Dificultad serves as a museum, another witness to the historical
heritage of the Mexican mining experience. Located in Real del Monte, Hidalgo, this museum provides information on more than five centuries of mining life at the deposits in Real del Monte, Pachuca, Mineral del Chico, Mineral de la Reforma, Huasca and Sierra de las Navajas.
After several years of restoration and conditioning of old facilities and mining equipment—a job undertaken by the His-torical Archive and Museum of Mining (AHMM) civil association—this building stands out for its valuable visual and docu-mentary information. It also serves as a tes-tament to the transition between the steam era and the beginning of the age of electricity, since this mine features the most powerful steam engine in the country, from the late nineteenth century, which pumped water out of the Clavo de San Ignacio and other mines in the region. It is machine made in Chem-nitz, Germany, with 580 horsepower.
eL TúneLThe Tunnel Mining Museum is located in Durango, and is often described as a great experience that rescues ancient legends of the city center, and illustrates the mining history of the state.
Inside the tunnel several tools and means of transport are exhibited, along with miner’s clothes and an extensive collection of minerals. The museum cov-ers 280 square meters where visitors can discover machines, tools and minerals that were donated by companies in the region.
The museum has an elevator for the elderly and for disabled people, and offers space for several exhibitions, surveillance systems and state of the art technology. The excitement begins when you begin to de-scend the steps that lead to the front door. The guides ask visitors to put on fluores-cent vests and helmets, like old-time miners, and the journey begins. After looking at old photographs of the Cerro del Mercado and the Ojuela mine, a guide provides relevant information to visitors.
The tour also includes information on the first expeditions in Zacatecas and the discovery of the first mines, which led to the foundation of the first mining towns. The mining history of Mexico is divided into four main stages: the colonial era, the nineteenth century, the Porfiriato (the 30 year rule of Porfirio Díaz, in the late nine-teenth and early twentieth centuries), and the twentieth century. N
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, British citizens who worked in the mines, as well as wealthy British businessmen who lived in the nation’s capital and met at exclusive clubs to
play cricket, gradually introduced the practice of soccer to Mexico, at first with fewer players than needed, and the games lasted seventy minutes. At schools for the children of these families, priests
were in charge of teaching the new sport to the kids.
The beginningsThe first balls arrived by ship to Veracruz, brought by Spaulding, the house special-ized in sporting goods, which was based in Mexico City. Those first leather balls—provided with inner tubes made from pigs’ bladders—were so hard that if a player hit the ball with his head it would leave a mark on his forehead.
During a visit to the nation’s capital, William Manco Blamey, a miner from the Real del Monte y Pachuca company, after witnessing a primitive attempt at a match by eight enthusiastic students at an English school who were kicking a ball without a definite purpose, decided to visit Spaulding and purchase one of these balls that were
Mines and ballsthe story of footBall in mexico
This popular sport was introduced to Mexican society by the British who operated the mines in Real del Monte, Hidalgo. In the old days, soccer was played at fancy foreign clubs in Mexico.
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The first balls arrived by ship to Veracruz, brought by Spaulding,
the house specialized in sporting goods, based in mexico City.
Those first leather balls—provided with inner tubes made from
pigs’ bladders—were so hard that if a player hit the ball with his
head it would leave a mark on his forehead.
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heavy as stones, and return to the mine to play with his peers. But to his surprise, all the balls had already been sold to several schools. So he had to make an order that was filled several months later.
The miner returned to Real del Monte and, with great excitement, told his Eng-lish colleagues that soccer had come to Mexico and announced that he was form-ing a team. The idea pleased technicians and miners alike, who immediately signed up on Blamey’s list, and months later the balls arrived. The investment amounted to twelve dollars, plus the cost of protective boots for playing soccer. Once they had or-ganized a team, the miners would play ball in their spare time. Saturday nights they practiced, applying the rules of the now popular sport, and devoted their Sundays to playing amongst themselves, or with other miners at El Hiloche Park, in Real del Monte.
The FirsT gaMeAccording to historical records, the first game in Pachuca took place in 1889 in the fields that were next to the railway station, while other sources claim that the match was played in the town of Real del Monte, where most of the mines were lo-cated. The second edition of the weekly El Minero de Pachuca, on May 12, 1889, recorded the triumph of the players of “El Rosario”—a mine owned by Richard Rule— over the workers of the “San Cay-etano” hacienda in Real del Monte, eight to four. The journal also reported a scuffle after the match between players and some spectators, that ended with several inju-ries and arrests.
Another version states that 120 years ago, British mining technicians founded Mexico’s oldest soccer team: the Pachuca team. In the November 4, 1895 edition of the American newspaper The Mexican Herald, an article reports on the merging of The Pachuca Cricket Club, the Velasco Cricket Club and the Pachuca Soccer Club to form the Pachuca Athletic Club, during a meeting at the Hacienda La Luz, in Pa-chuca.
Meanwhile, in Orizaba, Veracruz, a group of Scottish textile workers orga-nized their own squadron, while the Brit-
ish of the Mexico Cricket Club were also forming their team. This was how the first Amateur Soccer League took shape, and the first formal tournament in Mexico was organized.
The PioneersFinally, on July 19, 1902 in Mexico City an agreement for the establishment of the Mexican Amateur Soccer League Associa-tion was formed. By September, five teams belonged to the league: Pachuca Athletic Club, Reforma Athletic Club, British Club, Mexico Cricket Club, and the Orizaba Athletic Club.
The first formal tournament of this league started on October 19, 1902, in the fields that belonged to the Mexico Cricket Club, located in a site on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, with a game between the British Club and the Mexico Cricket Club, which ended with a score-board of five to one, in favor of the Brit-ish. As was customary among the British
members, during the half-time break dis-tinguished ladies who were cheerleading their teams, offered tea and refreshments to the players on the sidelines. In those days, soccer games were held on Sunday afternoons, and consisted of two periods of 35 minutes each.
The main supporters of soccer in Mexico were Percy C. Clifford and Robert J. Blackmoore, who brought the rules of the game and the first regulation balls to Mexico. Alfred Crowle—who played with Pachuca from 1908—also had a major in-fluence in popularizing this sport.
PachUca, The birThPLace oF soccer In November of 2014, Pachuca was declared an “Intangible Cultural Heritage” and the Birthplace of Mexican Soccer, by the Con-gress of the State of Hidalgo. The approval of the appointment was based on nineteenth century documents and publications, pre-served at the Newspaper and Periodicals Li-brary at UNAM. N
according to historical records, the first game in Pachuca took
place in 1889 in the fields that were next to the railway station,
while other sources claim that the match was played in the
town of Real del monte, where most of the mines were located.
Mining towns are an important part of Mexico’s history. They were often the scene of social and cultural movements such as the Independence, the Porfiriato*, the Revolution and the Cristiada*. These events, which marked the history of their communities, are also reflected in today’s festivities and customs. It is very reward-ing to visit these towns and learn their stories.
reaL de caTorceThis emblematic town in the state of San Luis Potosí is located 2,750 meters above sea level in the Sierra de Catorce (one of the highest peaks in Mexico, exceeding an alti-tude of 3,100 meters.) This town is a place
rich in history and culture. It is said that the original name is “Real de Minas de la Lim-pia Concepción de Guadalupe de los Ála-mos de Catorce.” The curious fact is that “catorce” (the number fourteen) represents the total members of a famous band of thieves that assailed travelers on the roads leading to the village. It is also known as a town that long ago overflowed with sil-ver and gold, and was capable of building a tunnel as a show of power: the Ogarrio Tunnel, the main access to the village.
Colloquially it is referred to as the town of stone, forged by its mining culture, but also for its Huichol* influence. It is near the most important sacred site for the Hu-icholes: a desert of 140,000 hectares with
MexiCo’s unique Mining towns
Mexico is a country rich in diversity. Wherever visitors go, they find different landscapes, customs, cuisines and cultures, such as the mining towns that are part of the nation’s colorful mosaic.
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the greatest cactus biodiversity concentra-tion per square meter in the world.
Walking through the streets of Real de Catorce, visitors will encounter truly emblematic buildings, including the bull-ring, built in pink stone; the Guadalupe Chapel, which houses religious murals in its interior; and the Palenque de Gallos (or cock-fight arena), a replica of a Roman amphitheater that currently stages artistic and cultural events.
One of the main festivities is held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Real de Catorce. It takes place in early October and consists of sev-eral stages: first, the statue of the saint is taken down from his altar in the church and placed at the bottom of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception; then, the faithful make a procession with the statue through every corner of the village; finally, on October 4 they sing “Las Mañanitas”
(the Mexican happy birthday song) and celebrate mass, after which the saint is re-turned to his altar. The occasion coincides with an important fair, visited by people from all over the country.
Moreover, Real de Catorce has become the meeting point par excellence for peo-ple who like to practice ecotourism, since one of the main activities is to explore the mountains aboard a “willy”, a jeep-style cross-country van. During this tour, visi-tors witness the semi-desertic landscape of Potosí, and visit the old mines in the region.
MineraL de PozosThis is now one of the favorite destina-tions in the state of Guanajuato, visited by people from distant lands who are attract-ed by its squares, alleys and old houses that have been restored by the descendants of miners of the old days. It is known as a ghost town because it has been abandoned twice since its foundation in the eighteenth century, by Spaniards who built the town on the remains of an ancient Chichimeca* settlement.
Initially, the inhabitants engaged in agriculture, until gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and mercury deposits were discovered and the Santa Brígida mine was built and exploited.
Mineral de Pozos became an impor-tant mining center, which was later aban-doned during the Wars of Independence and the Cristero War. Its charm resides in the perfect mix between its mining past and its modern present. Visitors can find old mines and large haciendas, but also modern art galleries and arts & crafts shops, featuring jewelry and dolls dressed in traditional costumes. Boutique hotels have brought a unique touch to the town, since most of them are restored old houses and mansions.
Mineral de Pozos is now recognized by two musical festivals: the mariachi festival held in May with the best mariachi groups in the country; and in July the Blues and Toltequidad* Festival, which aims to show the coexistence of blues and pre-Hispanic music. In addition, the sale of old instru-ments is another major attraction at this festival.
TaxcoIt is the oldest mining center in the Ameri-cas, known mainly for its silver mines. It is, in itself, a gem thanks to its characteristic sloping and cobblestoned streets, which of-ten lead to squares where visitors can ad-mire the colonial architecture. This small city, located in northern Guerrero, has sev-eral vantage points with stunning views.
Silver from Taxco is recognized inter-nationally. No corner in this former min-ing town is without a shop or a store that sells items made from this precious metal.
For its architecture and design, the Temple of Saint Prisca, build in the mid-eighteenth century, is an iconic point. It was erected over seven years, in less time than the average of the religious temples of the time. It is named after a canonized young woman who defended the name of God during the time of the Romans.
The temple was built at the behest of José de la Borda, a man who amassed a great fortune from the mines of Taxco. The design was by the architect Cayetano de Sigüenza, while the interior was majesti-cally decorated with paintings by Miguel Cabrera, from Oaxaca.
Nearby, visitors can visit the un-derground rivers at the Caverns of Cacahuamilpa. Set in a forest area of approximately 2,700 hectares, these mysterious caves are noted for their marvelous formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
In October 2009, Taxco was named City of Light by the International Urban Lighting Community. N
www.cptm.com.mx
* Glossary
• ThePorfiriato refers to the 1876-1910 period
governed by Porfirio Díaz.
• TheCristiada or War of the Cristeros refers to
the 1926-1929 religious conflict in Mexico.
• Thehuicholes are the native peoples from
Central Mexico, west of the Sierra Madre
mountains.
• Thechichimecas are the native peoples from
Central and Northwestern Mexico.
• Toltequidad refers to a movement aimed
and recovering and restoring pre-hispanic
traditions and culture in modern Mexico.pho
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Negocios ProMéxico
Para ExPortadorEs
Negocios ProMéxico |
58 Mayo 2015
Para Exportadores
deproméxico
El sector minero mexicano es uno
de los atractivos más importantes
a nivel mundial para la inversión
extranjera directa gracias al gran
potencial mineral que guarda nuestro territorio,
la tradición minera que caracteriza diversas re-
giones de nuestro territorio y la certeza legal que
ofrece, además de las posibilidades de crecimiento
y diversificación que abre la reforma energética,
que modificó la ley minera vigente.
Al día de hoy –y a lo largo de siglos de pro-
fesionalización de su fuerza de trabajo– el sector
minero es uno de los más sólidos, y sus benefi-
cios han llegado a todos los mexicanos. La mi-
nería ha permitido avances en infraestructura
y tecnología, además de estar presente en casi
todos los sectores y tareas que configuran el en-
tramado de la economía nacional.
México ha iniciado un proceso de trans-
formación que facilita el desarrollo de los
sectores más importantes de la economía
nacional; las reformas promovidas por este
gobierno garantizan el desarrollo sustentable
de dichos sectores. Actualmente México es el
principal exportador de plata a nivel mun-
dial, y ocupa algunos de los principales luga-
res en la exportación de minerales y metales
de gran valor.
En esta edición repasamos los compromisos
de la industria minera con el medio ambiente y
sus políticas sostenibles a largo plazo, también
exploramos la relación México-Australia desde
la perspectiva minera, los avances tecnológicos
para dicho sector, algunas aportaciones cultu-
rales de la Camimex y los principales minerales
producidos en México explicitando sus princi-
pales usos. Finalmente ofrecemos un reporte so-
bre los 125 años de la relación Rusia-México y
las oportunidades de comercio con la República
Popular China.
¡Bienvenidos a Negocios ProMéxico!
Negocios ProMéxico
PARA exPORTAdOReS
AuSTRALiA eN LA iNduSTRiA MiNeRA
MexicANAPor rodolFo esaú Garza de veGa
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RuSiA y MéxicO 125 años de relaCiones diPloMátiCas
Por JaiMe eduardo Juárez arias
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cOMPROMiSO SOSTeNiBLePor ósCar hernández
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LA cAMiMex eN LA cuLTuRAPor CaMiMex
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iNNOvAciONeS que RevOLuciONAN AL SecTOR
MiNeROPor raquel rivas
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PANORAMA ecONóMicO de chiNA y su relaCión Bilateral Con MéxiCo
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DECÍDETE A EXPORTAR.DECÍDETE A EXPORTAR.QUE NADA TE DETENGA.• Te ayudamos a construir una agenda de negocios en el extranjero. • Te facilitamos el acceso a estudios de mercado. • Te contactamos con un representante del sector para guiarte. • Te apoyamos en ubicar los centros de distribución que más convienen a tu producto.
Acércate y hagamos equipo.01800 EXPORTE (397 6783)
promexico.gob.mx economia.gob.mx
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MANUFACTURA
iNveRSióN de 500 MdP eN uNA FáBRicA de MeZcLiLLA eN cOAhuiLA
La empresa TT Blues Textil, del Grupo Sportswear, invertirá 500 millones de pesos en la construcción de su nueva planta en el municipio de Parras de la Fuente, en Coahuila, la cual generará 500 empleos. La fábrica será la productora de mezclilla más moderna de México, según anunció el gobernador del estado Rubén Moreira Valdez.
El presidente de la empresa, Alfredo Marcos Muñoz, explicó que la planta iniciará con una producción de 250,000 metros de mezclilla básica y aumentará a 800,000 metros en un mes, para luego iniciar con el desarrollo y proceso de telas premium.
www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia
COMERCIO ExTERIOR
exPORTAdOReS Se ReuNiRáN eN jALiScO
Durante la XXII edición del Congreso Nacional de Comercio Exterior, con sede en Puerto Vallarta este 2015, se entregará el Galardón Nacional a la Exportación a empresarios mexicanos.
El director de comercio exterior del Consejo Nacional Mexi-cano de Comercio Exterior (Comce), Fernando Ruiz Huarte informó que este año los empresarios podrán ser premiados en doce categorías.
El congreso se realizará el 30 de septiembre y el 1 y 2 de octubre próximos. Se espera contar con la presencia de dos mil hombres de negocios, entre 25 y 30 embajadores, y se estima una derrama económica de quince millones de dólares.
Fernando Ruiz Huarte informó que para promover las expor-taciones en México, los asistentes podrán sostener reuniones de negocios con una decena de compradores de alimentos frescos y enlatados provenientes de Alemania, Asia, Japón, China, Corea del Sur, España, Holanda y EUA.
www.comce.org.mx
COMERCIO ExTERIOR
cANAdá ReciBe 14% MáS exPORTAciONeS de MéxicO
México es el tercer socio comercial más importante para Canadá, después de EUA y China.
Las exportaciones mexicanas a Canadá crecieron 14% entre enero y marzo de 2015, al pasar de 1,789 millones de dólares en enero a 2,043 millones de dólares en abril, informó el organismo oficial de estadística de Canadá.
Las exportaciones canadienses a México durante el mismo periodo crecieron sólo 0.44%. En tanto, que las exportaciones mexicanas durante abril mostraron un superávit de 1,684 millones de dólares en la balanza comercial con Canadá.
El organismo oficial de estadística de Canadá indicó que las principales exportaciones mexicanas a Canadá correspondieron a maquinaria y aparatos mecánicos, grabadoras de sonido y reproductoras, equipo eléctrico y accesorios relacionados con equipo de sonido.
Los productos vegetales mexicanos exportados en abril alcanzaron los 124.7 millones, en su mayoría plantas, árboles, bulbos, raíces, flores, aceites comestibles, frutas y cítricos, café, especias, cereales, plantas medicinales y frutas oleaginosas.
www.statcan.gc.ca
60 Mayo 2015
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La agenda de actividades incluyó un foro de negocios organizado en conjunto con la Embajada de México en Rusia y la Cáma-ra de Comercio e Industria de los Urales. El director de la nueva oficina de Pro-México en Moscú, Jaime Eduardo Juárez Arias, fue el orador principal. Luego de su presentación “¿Cómo hacer negocios en México?”, habló del potencial exportador y de inversión que representa nuestro país para Rusia.
Al evento asistieron representantes de más de una decena de empresas mexicanas de los sectores agroalimentario, de bebi-das, farmacéutico y de productos del mar, con el fin de conocer las oportunidades que ofrece el mercado ruso y reunirse con potenciales socios de la región.
Hoy en día, las relaciones entre ambos países se desarrollan a un ritmo acelera-do. Además de que se abren nuevas pers-pectivas para la cooperación, se fortalece
el diálogo político y económico entre los respectivos gobiernos. En este año se tiene previsto realizar una reunión de la comi-sión bilateral mixta y un posible intercam-bio de visitas de los ministros de relaciones exteriores.
El comercio bilateral está ampliándose de manera activa. Prestigiosas empresas
mexicanas, como Grupo Gruma y Nemak, comenzaron a construir plantas en Rusia, con una inversión inicial de cincuenta mi-llones de dólares y ochenta millones de dó-lares, respectivamente. La estructura de la balanza comercial se ha diversificado consi-derablemente. En la actualidad, las corres-pondientes autoridades analizan la intro-
RuSiA y MéxicO125 añOS DE RElaCIOnES DIPlOmáTICaS
En el marco de la celebración del 125 aniversario del establecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas entre Rusia y México, este 2015 dimos un giro especial a nuestra presencia en el país europeo. El evento “Días de México” –que se llevó a cabo del 1 al 5 de junio en la ciudad de Ekaterimburgo– constó de diversas actividades comerciales y culturales, con el propósito de fortalecer los lazos y promover el entendimiento entre México y la región de Sverdlovsk.
por jaime eduardo juárez arias, consejero de proméxico en moscú
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ducción de herramientas que propicien la posibilidad de exportar productos del mar, lácteos y cárnicos de México a Rusia, ade-más de dar seguimiento a la exportación actual de vehículos ligeros, autopartes, refacciones y bienes con valor agregado. A lo anterior se suman los esfuerzos enca-minados a desarrollar el potencial que re-presenta la oferta mexicana de productos agroalimentarios, como hortalizas y frutas frescas, así como alimentos procesados y congelados, junto con bebidas espirituosas como el tequila y el mezcal, que incursio-nan exitosamente en el mercado ruso.
Como resultado de la reforma ener-gética en México, se prevén perspecti-vas de cooperación rusa en materia de generación de energía. Empresas de ese país, como Gazprom Neft, Rosneft y Za-
rubezhneft, han mostrado su interés por colaborar con Pemex. Además, en enero de 2014 se firmó un acuerdo de coopera-ción entre las empresas Lukoil y Pemex. Dicho acuerdo propició –a inicios de 2015– la apertura de la oficina de repre-sentación de Lukoil Overseas, subsidiaria de Lukoil en Holanda. Cabe mencionar también que, a principios de 2013, la em-presa mexicana Interjet adquirió veinte aviones de la compañía rusa Sukhoi y, posteriormente, complementó su flota con la compra de otros diez jets.
En noviembre de 2014 se abrió en Moscú la Oficina de Representación del Consejo de Promoción Turística de México (CPTM). Debido a la situación económica en Rusia, el volumen de turistas de ese país al extranjero disminuyó considerablemente
(hasta 50% en determinados destinos). En consecuencia, se han adoptado medidas para reducir los efectos negativos para el turismo de Rusia en México.
Ambos países ocupan posiciones si-milares en programas internacionales de cooperación y comparten la intención de promover el diálogo sobre temas como la eliminación de las armas nucleares, la lucha contra la delincuencia organizada y la participación en la reforma del Con-sejo de Seguridad de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas, entre otros temas. Recordemos que Rusia y México son ac-tores globales con presencia en distintos foros y organismos, como el G-20, el Foro de Cooperación Económica Asia-Pacífico (APEC) y el Arreglo de Wassenaar.
En lo que va de este año, la relación bilateral se ha caracterizado por una ac-tiva participación conjunta. Durante los últimos años se ha trabajado en el forta-lecimiento de los lazos de entendimiento y amistad, características invaluables para el buen desarrollo de los dos países tanto en el contexto nacional como en el global.
Por todo esto confiamos en que la Oficina de ProMéxico en Moscú será un puente para vincular las respectivas cultu-ras, abrir nuevas oportunidades e impulsar el gran potencial comercial y de inversión que representa México para el mercado ruso. N
www.promexico.gob.mx
foto archivo
Las empresas mineras en México han in-crementado sus inversiones para optimizar el consumo de agua y energía, dos aspectos críticos en cualquier industria. Para ello, estas empresas desarrollan nuevas tecno-logías, promueven la educación ambiental y mantienen una estricta vigilancia para el cumplimiento de la normatividad.
agUaAdemás de que la calidad y cantidad del agua afectan directamente la productivi-dad minera, es indispensable asegurar la disponibilidad, limpieza y seguridad de este recurso para conservar la salud hu-mana y el ambiente de las regiones donde tienen lugar las operaciones.
Las empresas afiliadas a la Cámara Mi-nera de México (Camimex) respetan el de-recho humano al agua y, mediante procesos de eficiencia de clase mundial, optimizan el consumo de los recursos hídricos y co-laboran para garantizar a las comunidades el acceso al líquido en condiciones seguras.
energíaLa industria minera mexicana –importante productor a nivel mundial– asume el com-promiso de mantenerse a la vanguardia en lo relativo a ahorro de energía y genera-ción de energías limpias para contribuir a frenar el cambio climático. Al respecto, opera conforme a los siguientes objetivos: • Generarriquezaconbajoconsumode
carbono• Usarenergíademaneraeficiente• Ahorrar en electricidad y mejorar la
eficiencia en el uso de combustibles• Disminuir significativamente las emi-
siones de gases de efecto invernadero
sUsTenTabiLidadLas empresas afiliadas a la Camimex com-parten la voluntad y la responsabilidad de actuar y tomar decisiones conforme a las mejores prácticas en materia de responsa-bilidad social, lo que implica cumplir con los compromisos éticos, sociales, ambien-tales y económicos asumidos.
Los afiliados a la cámara trabajan con universidades, centros de investigación, organizaciones civiles, gobierno y organis-mos internacionales para desarrollar, ava-lar e implementar estrategias de beneficio social y cuidado del medio ambiente en sus operaciones. N
cOMPROMiSOSOSTEnIBlE
El sector minero está consciente de la importancia de conservar los recursos y minimizar el impacto negativo de sus operaciones.
por óscar hernández
secTor sociaLMenTe resPonsabLe
La industria minera se ha hecho acreedora a diversos reconocimientos:
• 39gruposmineroscuentanconeldistintivodeEmpresaSocialmenteResponsable.
• 100centrosdetrabajooperandemaneraactivaparaobtenerlacertificacióndeIndustria Limpia. En 2013 lograron su cometido 79 centros.
• 4gruposminerosformanpartedelÍndiceIPCSustentabledelaBolsaMexicanade Valores.
• 48centrosdetrabajocuentanconalgúndistintivoenlostresnivelesdelacertificación de Empresa Segura.
• 109centrosdetrabajoestánincorporadosalprogramadeAutogestiónenSeguridad y Salud en el Trabajo de la STPS.
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La relación entre México y Australia se en-cuentra en uno de sus mejores momentos. Actualmente se analizan áreas de comple-mentariedad que podrían plasmarse en el Acuerdo Transpacífico de Cooperación Económica (TPP, por sus siglas en inglés).
Para ello, tanto el embajador de Australia en México, Tim George, como su homólo-go de México en Australia, Armando Álva-rez, han venido desarrollando una intensa agenda de promoción.
Entre inversionistas de todo el mundo no pasa inadvertido el hecho de que Méxi-co se posiciona como el principal destino latinoamericano y cuarto a escala mundial para invertir en exploración. El país es el principal productor y exportador de plata en el mundo, así como el segundo produc-tor de florita y bismuto a nivel global. A ni-vel de Latinoamérica, además, es el segun-do productor de oro y el tercero de cobre.
Sólo 25% del territorio nacional ha sido explorado a detalle, por lo que hay grandes oportunidades para desarrollar nuevos proyectos. Y esto es precisamente lo que interesa a las empresas australianas.
Por ejemplo, la importante minera aus-traliana Rio Tinto adquirió una participa-ción en el Proyecto Promontorio Copper de Azure Minerals a finales de 2014, la cual opera de manera exitosa y con atrac-tivos planes de crecimiento.
En tanto, como complemento de sus aspiraciones en la industria del petróleo y el gas, la empresa BHP-Billiton externó su interés en desarrollar proyectos de cobre a gran escala en México.
AuSTRALiA eN LA iNduSTRiA MiNeRA MexicANAExPlORaCIón DE OPORTunIDaDES
Se advierte un creciente interés en el sector minero de México entre las empresas australianas de larga trayectoria y con tecnología y procesos sofisticados para la exploración, detección, explotación y aprovechamiento de recursos mineros.
por rodolfo esaú garza de vega, consejero de melbourne, proméxico
Cabe resaltar que la industria minera de Australia destaca por su amplia ex-periencia en la preservación del medio ambiente y sus prácticas socialmente res-ponsables en proyectos mineros, lo cual no sólo agiliza la obtención de permisos, sino que involucra de manera activa a las comunidades locales y fomenta programas que protegen el entorno.
Delegaciones de empresas australianas han visitado México para identificar opor-tunidades en ámbitos tales como procesa-do de minerales, seguridad en las minas, logística, planificación de minas, manejo ambiental y capacitación técnica. México también ha participado en eventos como Latin America Down Under, donde la Coordinación General de Minería de Méxi-co y ProMéxico destacaron las ventajas que ofrece México en el sector minero ante in-versionistas y representantes de la industria.
Asimismo, se espera que diversas com-pañías australianas participen en la XXI Convención Internacional de Minería, a realizarse en Acapulco del 7 al 10 de octu-bre de este año.
Con el objetivo de fortalecer la relación y agilizar la llegada de más proyectos de in-versión de Australia a México, ProMexico abrirá una oficina de representación en Mel-bourne a partir del próximo mes de julio. N
www.promexico.gob.mx/es/mx/melbourne
entre inversionistas de todo el mundo no pasa inadvertido el hecho de que México se posiciona como el principal destino latinoamericano y cuarto a escala mundial para invertir en exploración.
Sólo 25% del territorio nacional ha sido explorado a detalle, por lo que hay grandes oportunidades para desarrollar nuevos proyectos. y esto es precisamente lo que interesa a las empresas australianas.
Negocios ProMéxico |
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Para Exportadores foto archivo
Gracias a las materias primas que se obtienen del sector minero, el mundo ha visto grandes avances a través de la creación de equipos médicos de última generación, satélites, computadoras y un largo etcétera que nos ha facilitado la adaptación del ser humano a eso que llamamos futuro. Concatenado a estas mejoras, el sector se ha visto obligado a innovar dentro de sus fronteras, lo-grando así una notable mejoría en sus niveles de operación, al mismo tiempo que garantiza tanto la protección de los recursos naturales como salvaguardar el capital humano.
A continuación el lector tendrá algu-nas de las innovaciones que están revolu-cionando el mercado en la actualidad.
MaQUinaria aUTóMaTaEl grupo minero Rio Tinto posee una flota de transporte autónoma de 39 unidades que recorren 3.9 millones de kilómetros de extensión que poseen tres de sus minas en Australia. Estas unidades, operadas de manera individual, trabajan acarreando minerales gracias a toda una infraestruc-tura fija que, a su vez, está conectada a sensores.
eL MéTodo de Lixiviación se renUevaUn equipo de investigadores del Departa-mento de Ingeniería de Procesos e Hidráu-lica de la Universidad Autónoma Metro-politana (UAM) propone una revisión del método de lixiviación por tiourea. Con el uso de un reactor electroquímico se puede aprovechar la tiourea casi en su totalidad gracias a su recirculación en el proceso. De resultar esto positivo, habría toda una re-volución para la industria, por tratarse de un método sin cianuro para la obtención de oro.
cierres Técnicos resPonsabLesLa operadora Cerro Negro, en Argentina, cuenta con un plan completo de recupera-ción ambiental que permite rehabilitar las zonas explotadas y asegurar la renovación de las áreas verdes, además de evitar el proceso de oxidación de la roca, benefi-ciando en forma directa a las comunidades aledañas. Por medio de máquinas opera-das por personal calificado, el suelo se re-llena de tal manera que es posible sembrar un bosque con árboles que crecerán de manera natural y sana.
Procesos con agUa de MarAnte la escasez de recursos hídricos, algu-nas compañías recurren a otras soluciones para sus procesos. Tal es el caso de la em-presa chilena Minera Centinela, que sólo utiliza agua de mar sin desalar, la cual es bombeada a través de un acueducto de 145 kilómetros de longitud. A la fecha, la
minera está produciendo concentrado de cobre utilizando únicamente este líquido.
LevanTaMienTo TridiMensionaLLa compañía austriaca 3G Software & Measurement desarrolló para Geodata Andina, de Chile, un sistema basado en la técnica de visión por computadora. Esto posibilita la generación de imágenes tri-dimensionales interactivas desde donde se puede obtener información geométrica para evaluar macizos rocosos.
váLvULas inTeLigenTesVictaulic ha desarrollado diversos siste-mas de tuberías y tecnologías de unión para la minería. Es el caso de la Serie 725, diseñada para aplicaciones mineras que requieran servicios abrasivos, como el relleno en pasta. Tradicionalmente, los operarios tenían que reinstalar manual-mente el sistema de tuberías de relleno en otras áreas de la mina, lo que implicaba largas horas de trabajo y mantenimiento. Con la nueva válvula de desvío Victaulic Serie 725, la necesidad de reposicionar las líneas de relleno de forma manual dismi-nuye en hasta 50%. N
iNNOvAciONeS que RevOLuciONANal SECTOR mInERO
Los avances en el sector minero se han dado en ámbitos como la automatización, la biotecnología, la seguridad o las tecnologías de la información.
por raquel rivas
Infografía
MiNeRALeS eN MéxicO¿PaRa QuÉ SIRVEn?
México figura entre los diez primeros productores de estos minerales con cuyas aplicaciones no los asociamos por sus nombres, pero que se encuentran en diversas industrias y objetos que utilizamos diariamente.
WOLLASTONiTA
Se aplica en pinturas y recubrimientos, cerámica, metalurgia y construcción, entre otras industrias. En el caso de la cerámica, este metal reduce considerablemente los tiempos del ciclo de cocción, con el consecuente ahorro de energía y la disminución de emisiones gaseosas.
Posició
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BiSMuTO
Tiene numerosas aplicaciones comerciales, especialmente en cosmetología, producción de pigmentos y medicina. En este último caso destaca como componente para tratar gripes, alergias y diarreas.
Posició
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México en el ranking mundial2o
FLuORiTA
Se usa principalmente para producir ácido fluorhídrico, material esencial en la fabricación de criolita sintética, la cual se usa para la fundición o producción electrolítica de aluminio. Asimismo, se utiliza en grandes cantidades para la producción de esmalte y vidrio translúcido.
Posició
n de
México en el ranking mundial2o
cAdMiO
Se utiliza en el chapado metálico de aplicaciones de alta tensión, en ciertos filtros de vidrio, en la fabricación de pigmentos y plásticos y como catalizador químico. También se emplea en galvanoplastia (como recubrimiento).
Posició
n de
México en el ranking mundial4o
BARiTA
El principal uso de la barita se encuentra en la industria petrolera, seguida por la industria de la pintura, donde se le emplea como pigmento resistente a los ácidos. En la industria automotriz reemplaza el asbesto como producto friccionante en la fabricación de balatas para frenos. Y, debido a su alta densidad, lo que le permite absorber la radiación, es el metal elegido como protección en los cuartos de rayos X.
Posició
n de
México en el ranking mundial8o
MOLiBdeNO
Se emplea en numerosas aleaciones para producir aceros templados, mejorando su dureza y resistencia a las altas temperaturas. Se utiliza también en la fabricación y construcción de distintas herramientas y piezas que necesitan resistir la corrosión. Es un metal esencial en la nutrición de las plantas; la carencia de este elemento en el suelo puede volver la tierra poco fértil.
Posició
n de
México en el ranking mundial5o
diATOMiTA
Tiene múltiples aplicaciones: industria de la cerveza, metales preciosos, vinos y separación de sólidos ultramicroscópicos, entre otras. Posibilita una mayor claridad en el líquido filtrado y un menor flujo. Se utiliza también como material de revestimiento o relleno en plásticos, insecticidas, fertilizantes, ladrillos, aislantes, cementos y muchos productos más.
Posició
n de
México en el ranking mundial7o
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| Negocios ProMéxico
Mayo 2015
Negocios ProMéxico |
70 Mayo 2015
Para Exportadores foto archivo
cAMiMexEn la CulTuRa
Para que los niños conozcan la importancia de la minería y recreen la experiencia de trabajar en este sector, fundamental para el desarrollo de la humanidad, la Cámara Minera de México (Camimex) apoya el montaje de exhibiciones y muestras en diferentes museos del país.
por camimex
En 2013 fue inaugurado el pabellón recreativo Mina-camimex en el parque infantil granja Las américas. El objetivo es que los niños y jóvenes se familiaricen con las operaciones mineras y su compromiso con el ambiente y con las comunidades que las rodean, así como su contribución económica, social y cul-tural para México. En 2014, este espacio –cuyo recorrido dura aproximadamente veinte minutos– fue visitado por 131,124 personas, de las cuales 76% correspondieron a niños, a quienes también se obsequiaron veinticinco mil cuadernos de minería.
En febrero de 2015, en el Museo centro semilla se inauguró un pabellón dedicado a la contribución de la industria mi-nera en Chihuahua, estado que representa el tercer lugar en producción de oro y plata en el ámbito nacional. La muestra fue montada con la participación de la Camimex, el gobier-no del estado y el Clúster Minero de Chihuahua. El princi-pal objetivo es que los niños aprendan sobre la minería y entiendan que el presente y futuro del hombre depende de esta actividad, así como inculcar entre ellos el respeto por la naturaleza y por el trabajo de los mineros.
La Camimex autorizó una aportación de 750,000 pesos para que, junto con el Papalote Museo del niño de la ciudad de Monterrey, se iniciaran los trabajos de instalación de una sala especial sobre rocas, minerales y minería del estado de Nuevo León. El proyecto se encuentra actualmente en proceso.
Infografía
PANORAMA ecONóMicO de chiNA y Su RElaCIón BIlaTERal COn mÉxICO
Productos de mar• Atunes, listados y bonitos• Harina de pescado• Atún entero congelado
Alimentos procesados. A diferencia de otros sectores, la industria de alimentos procesados en China tiene un tamaño modesto (sólo aporta 1.2% de las exportaciones). China se especializa en productos procesados, aunque tiene un nivel importante de exportaciones de hortalizas y productos marinos.
• Cárnicos / Bovino- los demás despojos comestibles congelados
• Cárnicos / Porcino- Pieles de cerdo enteras o en recortes, excepto el cuero precocido en trozos- Carne de animales de la especie porcina, congelada- Piernas, paletas, y sus trozos, sin deshuesar
Automotriz. China es el mayor fabricante de vehículos en el ámbito internacional. Debido a lo anterior, diversas empresas comienzan a expandirse para abastecer a nuevos
mercados, como son el caso de Brasil y México.
electrodomésticos. En 2013, China figuró como el principal productor de la industria de electrodomésticos en el mundo, en gran medida debido a que la industria electrónica y metalmecánica, necesarias para la fabricación de electrodomésticos, son fuertes en dicho país.
Empresas de China pueden encontrar en México excelentes oportunidades de inversión en los segmentos fundición, maquinados, die casting, estampados y moldes y troqueles.
OPORTuNidAdeS de NeGOciOS de MéxicO cON chiNA
OPORTuNidAdeS de exPORTAciONeSDe acuerdo con la coincidencia entre la oferta exportable mexicana y la demanda de China, existen oportunidades para incrementar las exportaciones de moluscos, pescado congelado y crustáceos. México puede competir bajo las mismas condiciones arancelarias que países europeos, Argentina, Canadá, Ecuador y EUA. Algunos de estos productos son:
El crecimiento de la economía China continuó durante 2013, pues alcanzó una tasa de crecimiento de 7.7% respecto al año anterior. El Fondo Monetario Internacional estima que este crecimiento se mantendrá en torno al 7.4% en 2014, gracias a la fuerte demanda interna.
Sus principales socios comerciales fueron EUA, Hong Kong, Japón, Corea del Sur y Taiwán. Los productos que más importó fueron aceites de petróleo o de material bituminoso, circuitos integrados y microestructuras eléctricas, minerales de hierro y automóviles de turismo.
En 2013, el comercio bilateral de México con China superó los 67,788 millones de dólares (mdd), por lo que el país asiático se colocó como el segundo socio comercial más importante de México (cuarto como comprador, segundo como abastecedor).
El 60% de las exportaciones mexicanas enviadas a ese país fueron manufacturas, principalmente automóviles de turismo, minerales de cobre, aceites crudos de petróleo, teléfonos y desperdicios y desechos de cobre.
En los últimos quince años, México ha captado inversiones chinas por 286 millones de dólares, de las cuales 35% se han concretado en los pasados dos años. Estas inversiones se concentran principalmente en minería (34%), comercio (26%) y manufactura (21%).
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BReveS Infografía
MéxicO-chiNARElaCIón BIlaTERal
Fuente: ProMéxico con información del Fondo Monetario Internacional, Banco de México y Secretaría de economía
LuGar eN eCoNoMÍa MuNDIaL taSa De CreCIMIeNto aNuaL CoMerCIo totaL CoN MÉxICo
2° 7.4% 2°
3° 2° 19°
PRiNciPALeS PROducTOS iMPORTAdOS POR MéxicO deSde chiNA
teléfonos y aparatos de telecomunicación 12%
Partes de radios, televisiones y radares 8%
Computadoras y sus unidades 8%
Partes de copiadoras, computadoras, impresoras y calculadoras
7%
Circuitos integrados y microestructuras eléctricas 4%
otros 61%
Porcentaje de manufacturas 98%
PRiNciPALeS PROducTOS exPORTAdOS POR MéxicO A chiNA
automóviles ligeros 27%
Minerales de cobre y sus concentrados 17%
Partes y accesorios de vehículos 9%
aceites crudos de petróleo 8%
Desperdicios y deshechos de cobre 5%
otros 34%
Porcentaje de manufacturas 67%
iNveRSióN MexicANA eN chiNA
• Lainversiónacumulada(stock) de México en China ascendió a 95 mdd en 2012.
iNveRSióN de chiNA eN MéxicO (1999 – i TRiM. 2015)
• Inversión:379.3 mdd
• Sectores:Minería (97.3 mdd); comercio (86.4 mdd); industrias manufactureras (76.5 mdd); servicios financieros (50.7 mdd); otros (68.4 mdd).
Fuente: ProMéxico
CoMPraDor De MÉxICo aBaSteCeDor De MÉxICo PoSICIÓN INverSIÓN extraNJera DIreCta eN MÉxICo
Negocios ProMéxico |
72 Mayo 2015
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