With important announcements Arminera came to an end

There were three days to generate contacts and do business. Arminera became a thermometer to know the current situation and make out the future of an industry that has the potential of becoming one of the production pillars of the country.   

A total of 261 exhibitors from Argentina; Germany; Australia; Austria; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Spain; Finland; Poland; United Kingdom and South Africa offered their products and services to 7,366 professional visitors and businessmen coming from Argentina; Germany; Australia; Bolivia; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; England; Spain; United State; France; Mexico; Peru; Russia; Sweden and Uruguay.  

The event, carried out every two years from 1997, showed itself totally renewed organized by Messe Frankfurt Argentina, the new organizer chosen by CAEM. Said changes are part of a wide aim proposed by the new conduction of the chamber, which seeks to generate transformation both from within the activity -promoting new environmental policies and controls- and outside it –seeking to improve its image in the public opinion and in the communities which are close to the projects-.    

Opening and National Mining Industry Day  

The first day of the exhibition started with the celebration of the National Mining’s Industry Day, which gathered the main referents of the sector both in the public and the private sector.   

The Argentine Minister of Energy and Mining, Juan José Aranguren, reviewed the projects started up under his tenure and that seek to achieve "a responsible mining that helps to improve society." He also added: “Argentina is on the 5th place in Latin America and the 10th place worldwide regarding the number of projects of mining exploration, and in 2016, 40 companies of the sector established in our country and 150 million dollars were invested". 

On his part, the President of CAEM, Marcelo Álvarez, highlighted that it is the first time that an Argentine president defines mining as one of the strategic sectors for the development of the country, together with agro-industry and energy. And, in this sense, he considered that “mining should be part of the strategy of Mesas de Competitividad, a public policy devoted to improve the competition conditions of sectors defined as strategic ones." 

According to figures given by CAEM, in 2016 mining brought 58,000 million pesos in exports and supported 75,000 families (direct and indirect employment). Besides, there are 1,145 million dollars committed in mining projects which are under feasibility, construction, and exploration stage, a number that is expected to rise to 1,700 million dollars in 2018.  

Meanwhile, the governor of San Juan, Sergio Uñac, who also took part in the event, explained that mining is currently the main economic activity in his province and highlighted that “70% of the exportable product corresponds to products extracted from mining." I believe that “mining gives us a historic opportunity due to the employment multiplication that it implies.”  

Towards Sustainable Mining 

Arminera had as an axis the industry’s commitment with sustainable mining. For this reason, the fair was the chosen place for the formal launching of the TSM – Towards Sustainable Mining initiative.  It is a set of tools and indicators that help to measure the performance of the companies in several areas and guarantee that the main mining risks are responsibly managed.   

The companies that make up TSM commit themselves to annually assess their performance in six important areas: their relationships with the community; the conservation of biodiversity; the use of energy and greenhouse effect gas emissions; tailings management; health and safety of their employees and crisis and communication management. The results are access free for the audience and they are externally checked every three years. 

The presentation was made by Eng. Guillermo Pedoja, from the Business Chamber of Environment (CEMA). Then, the presentation was in charge of Chantal Clement, Director of Sustainability of Goldcorp Inc. Meanwhile, Tim Martin, ex Ambassador of Canada in Argentina, current president of the Diplomatic Counsel International Policy Consulting and Strategic Consultant of RESOLVE, spoke on “Human rights, Mining and Relations with Aborigines”, to deal with one of the main points of the program: the relationship with the communities.

On its part, the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) was present in Arminera through María Fernanda Diez, who lectured on “Mining and Sustainability: the global panorama.” The ICMM is an international organization devoted to the mining industry that gathers 23 mining and metal companies worldwide and 34 regional associations. The institute seeks to strengthen the environmental and social performance by being a catalyst for the change and the improvement of the contribution of mining to society. 

Ministers of the Americas discussed the future of the activity in the region 

Within a full schedule of activities proposed, it was carried out the Matchmaking Program of Ministers of the Americas, of which took part the Assistant Deputy Minister, Lands and Minerals Sector of Canada, Marian Campbell Jarvis; the Undersecretary of Mining of Chile, Erich Schnake Walker; the Minister of Energy and Mines of the Dominican Republic, Antonio Isa Conde; the Deputy Minister of Mines of Colombia, Carlos Cante Puentes and the General Director of the Chamber of Mining of Mexico, Sergio Almazán. 

Moderated by the renowned journalist Guillermo Kohan, the officials discussed on public policies compared and the current situation of the sector in America. In the meeting, it was highlighted the importance of the knowledge exchange by the countries with greatest tradition, as well as the creation of initiatives at regional level, to face the challenges of a globalized world. 

More than 1,000 meetings for suppliers’ development 

The pillar of Arminera is undoubtedly the drive and development of new business operations. On one side, it was carried out the “Matchmaking Program for Suppliers Development”, in which 19 local mining companies, invited by the organizers, celebrated meetings with exhibiting companies. In total, 1,200 meetings among 60 mining companies executives were celebrated (exhibiting and non exhibiting ones) and national and international exhibitors.  

On the other side, Matchmaking International Programs were also carried out, in which foreign buyers from Germany, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Peru and South Africa, contacted Argentine manufacturers from the mining industry which are able to export. In total, 200 meetings were carried out. The activity was organized by Messe Frankfurt Argentina jointly with the Argentine Agency of Investments and International Commerce.  

The President and CEO of the company, Fernando Gorbarán, said: “we worked to position the country and the mining industry, and we also aimed to attract potential investors. For this reason, matchmaking programs were organized, to show all the potential that Argentina has. On the other side, we also wished to show a great national industry, most of them small and medium companies, which is a supplier of the mining industry and wants to place its products. The idea was to create a platform in which offer and demand are present and to help these small and medium companies to insert themselves as suppliers of the mining industry." 

The professional update, another of the axes 

During the three days of the fair, the exhibiting companies gave more than 20 free trainings and product presentations in subjects such as: thermofusion; news in geosynthetics for mining; operational application of process mineralogy; smart drilling and underground solutions; safe fluid conduction; conveyor belts repair, among others.  

Besides, technical seminars were carried out, in which renowned professionals of the country lectured on “Myths and realities of the mining industry”. The SEGEMAR, besides, showed the Argentine geological potential.  

Following subjects related to sustainability and environment, practical examples and real cases were analyzed with the help of Panamerican Silver. The lecture, called “Seeds Cultivation in Christmas Project Applied to Remediation Works in Manantial Espejo Mine”, showed the intense remediation plan carried out by the company.  

Countries with great mining tradition also offered meetings and training seminars. This is the case of the Australian Embassy, which organized a seminar on “Strengths and Abilities of Australia Regarding Mining”, with the presence of the Argentine Ambassador, Noel Campbell, and the Business Counselor Minister, Shannon Powell.

Finally, the place of students. Groups of young people from several points of the country, invited by the organizers, visited the fair and were able to interact with national and international companies and organizations; to know the reach of the sector in Argentina; as well as their professional and work advantages. The aim of this kind of initiatives is to encourage them to follow university careers related to the industry and, in this way, incorporate new professionals in the area.   

The Machines in the City  

For the first time, Arminera had an outdoor machinery square. It was a 1,500 sqm space with great exhibition equipment. Companies such as Atlas Copco, Cetec Sudamericana, Larocca Minería, Liebherr, Kaeser Compresores, Finning Argentina, Repas S.A., and Mobilbox showed their latest news in compressors, generators, lighting towers, tires, loading shovels, articulated dumpers, and containers, among others.  

Visitors could have a closer contact with the industry and know the size of equipment, the scales and the technology used.