Agua Rica / MARA — copper, gold, silver and molybdenum (Glencore)
Catamarca's largest copper project and the biggest pool of stalled capital in the province. MARA integrates the Agua Rica deposit (Andalgalá) with the plant, the concentrate pipeline and the infrastructure already built at Bajo de la Alumbrera, which stopped mining in 2018: reusing an existing plant is the project's best economics and, at the same time, its most contested environmental argument (the plan is to use Alumbrera's depleted pit as a tailings facility). Proven and probable reserves declared as of 30-Jun-2019 (100% basis): 1,105 Mt at 0.49% copper, 0.03% molybdenum, 0.21 g/t gold and 2.8 g/t silver; the 2025 RIGI release cites approximately 1,200 Mt at 0.47% copper, 0.20 g/t gold, 3.40 g/t silver and 0.03% molybdenum (measured and indicated, a different basis: do not add them up). Estimated mine life 27-28 years. Glencore declared more than 10,000 construction jobs and more than 2,500 operating jobs, but COMBINED with El Pachón: do not attribute them to Catamarca. While the big project waits, the restart of Alumbrera's remaining phases is moving ahead with a first equipment and maintenance contract of ~USD 250 M and a water concession cut back from 1,200 to 800 litres per second.
The projectwhat it is, the route, the owners, the works and the contractors
Who owns it
Minera Agua Rica LLC, Argentine Branch; 100% controlled by Glencore International AG since 31-Jul-2023 (previously Yamana Gold 56.25% / Glencore 25% / Newmont 18.75%). Pan American Silver retains a 0.75% NSR royalty on copper for the life of the mine. prob · Aug 18, 2025 ↗
What is missing from this fact sheet
Above is what has already passed verification with its source: who operates it, how much it declares it will invest, where it stands under the RIGI and where it is. Still missing are the works milestone by milestone, the contractors, the entry map for suppliers, what it leaves in the province and what could stall it: that is published once it passes the three layers, not before. The project has been filed under the RIGI and has not been approved yet. The works, the awards and the instrument in the Boletín Oficial come later.
How to supply itwhere to register, what they ask for and what they will buy
What it will need and has no supplier for yet
Mining contracting at scale and mine equipment
highIn the prefeasibility study's capital structure, the mine contractor is 21.6% of initial capex and mine equipment 10.1% (together, 40.1% with the rest of the mine line item, against barely 5.1% for plant and processing): it is the project's largest package and today it has no local bidder of the right size in the province. The timing play is local roots: the provincial registry requires a registered address two years old, so whoever settles in 2026 will be eligible exactly when the project builds.
Pit dewatering, mine water management and hydrogeological monitoring
highYear 1 of restarting Alumbrera's remaining phases is not mining: it is refurbishment, with pit dewatering and quarterly piezometric and hydrochemical monitoring imposed by the environmental resolution itself, over a concession cut from 1,200 to 800 litres per second. Demand written by the regulator, with an immediate 12-to-24-month window.
Pit geotechnics: slope stabilisation and real-time monitoring
mediumThe resolution requires slope stabilisation with real-time control technology. That is instrumentation and telemetry, not just civil works: radar and prisms, ground support and controlled blasting. No visible local supply.
Tailings dam reinforcement and audit
mediumReinforcing the tailings dam is an express condition of the resolution, and the existing dam only covers Agua Rica's first years of ore. High technical barrier (geotechnical engineering plus piezometric instrumentation) and no local supply in the province.
Maintenance ring around the heavy-fleet mother contract
highThe big contract is already awarded (new equipment and maintenance of 51 units for five years, ~USD 250 M, with the brand dealer). What that contract does NOT cover is the SME entry point: off-the-road tyres, cutting tools, hoses and hydraulics, lubrication, industrial washing, field service and a component repair shop.
Environmental and social services written by the regulator itself
highThe resolution mandates MONTHLY external environmental audits, participatory monitoring with communities, hydrogeological modelling, water balance, water and carbon footprint, waste and effluent certificates, gender-perspective programmes and internships. Each obligation is a recurring professional-services contract, not a one-off expense.
Get on board the takeoff
This week’s updates: proyectos RIGI, proveedores y datos verificados de Catamarca and new provinces as they launch. Free.
