NMDC eyes Argentina for copper, critical minerals

State-owned miner NMDC is exploring opportunities in Argentina for copper and other critical minerals as it seeks to accelerate global diversification strategy amid rising demand for energy transition minerals.

A delegation from NMDC, which is India’s largest iron ore producer, led by Director (Finance) Anurag Kapil and consisting of several other officials besides other representatives visited Argentina.

It held a series of high-level meetings with government leaders, mining ministries and state-owned mining agencies in the mineral-rich provinces of Mendoza, Jujuy, Catamarca, Salta, La Rioja and Río Negro to assess geological potential, regulatory frameworks and possible avenues for future technical collaboration and investment, the company said on Thursday.

No investment commitments were announced during the visit. However, the engagements provided the company with first-hand exposure to Argentina’s mining ecosystem and laid the groundwork for future technical assessments, institutional cooperation and potential partnerships across multiple provinces, NMDC said.