Los Azules — copper cathodes (McEwen Copper)
Leach-based copper cathode project in Calingasta (San Juan). Company/press figures (probable, outside the resolution): resources of ~10,900 M lb Cu indicated + ~26,700 M lb inferred, mine life ~27 years, +3,500 projected jobs.
The projectwhat it is, the route, the owners, the works and the contractors
Who owns it
Andes Corporación Minera S.A. (ACM, CUIT 30-70952278-3; McEwen Copper's vehicle; minority shareholders per press reports: Stellantis ~18.3%, Rio Tinto-Nuton ~17.2%) verif · Oct 14, 2025 ↗
The works, milestone by milestone
McEwen Copper closed a USD 240 million syndicated loan (senior secured, 4 years, 12.0% per year) to fund engineering and early works. Lenders: Sprott Natural Resource Investment Partners USD 112 M, Rob McEwen USD 85 M and others USD 43 M. The final investment decision and full project financing are left for mid-2027; commercial cathode production, for 2030.
Who already has a contract
We have not surveyed this project’s awards. A published contract with its source closes them.
How to supply itwhere to register, what they ask for and what they will buy
How to become a supplier
We have not built this project’s entry map. It is our gap, not a prohibition: it closes by opening the provincial register and the operator’s single window.
What it will buy, and when
Each phase buys different things at different times.
Feasibility, permits and construction of mine, plant and infrastructure
under wayThe approved purpose is «to complete the development (feasibility, permits) and the construction of mine, plant and associated infrastructure to extract and process copper cathodes». Investment plan from admission: USD 33,512,551.05 in the first year and USD 382,262,761.61 in the second —a twelvefold jump from one year to the next—, with a Dec 31, 2027 deadline. ⚠️ The act does not declare a start-up date.
What it will need and has no supplier for yet
Civil works and electromechanical assembly of the leaching/SX-EW plant
highMine and plant construction in 2026-2027 (a minimum-investment deadline of 31-Dec-2027 forces early execution) demands industrial assembly contractors.
Renewable power and Andean transmission line
mediumLos Azules is promoted as the first big 'green' copper: its renewable power mix requires dedicated generation/transmission infrastructure.
Get on board the takeoff
Tell us what you are looking for and we will reply. This is what we work on: proyectos RIGI, proveedores y datos verificados de San Juan.
What it leaves in San Juanjobs, works, taxes, promises and the outlook
- The works that stay behind — We have not surveyed this project’s permanent works. A published size with its source closes them.
- What it already pays in taxes and royalties — We have not broken down this project’s local fiscal contribution: the primary source that sets each item still has to be opened, and an act of the State is not published on press backing.
- Who promised what — We have not surveyed the public promises about this project. A dated, verifiable commitment with its source closes them.
What could stall itrisks and how to track them
- What could stall it — We have not documented this project’s risks. An identifiable vector with its source closes them.
- How to tell whether it is advancing — We have not defined this project’s indicators: what observable fact marks its progress still has to be identified.
How we verified thisthe act, the gaps and the sources
The RIGI act, in detail
EX-2025-75387730- -APN-SCEYM#MEC verif · Oct 14, 2025 ↗
Sep 25, 2025 verif · Oct 14, 2025 ↗
The act’s articles, in detail
4 facts on the commitment
61,1 % of the amount earmarked for suppliers that goes to LOCAL suppliers verif · Oct 14, 2025 ↗
The entire investment amount earmarked for paying suppliers, goods and infrastructure works, during the construction and operation stages verif · Oct 14, 2025 ↗
31 December 2027 to complete the minimum investment amount. verif · Dec 31, 2027 ↗
Andes Corporación Minera S.A. (ACM SA), tax ID 30-70952278-3. verif · Oct 14, 2025 ↗
What we could not confirm
There are 1 in this project. Each says why it could not be confirmed and what it would take to close it.
H-01How many people the construction employs and how many the mine’s operation does+
Resolución 1553/2025 does not publish employment, and the report that made the admission official gives a single combined figure («more than 3,500 jobs, direct and indirect»). A split of more than 2,000 construction workers and 1,000 in operation circulates, attributed to the environmental impact report for the exploitation stage, but none of the pages repeating it could be opened to read it first-hand.
