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.
The engagement with Argentine provinces “reflects our commitment to identifying new opportunities in critical minerals while leveraging our decades of expertise in exploration and responsible mining. The discussions with provincial authorities have helped us understand the potential of these regions and the possibilities for future cooperation in areas aligned with India’s mineral security objectives,” Mr.Anurag Kapil said.
NMDC, which produced more than 53 million tonnes of iron ore in FY26, is India’s largest producer of the key raw material for steel. It keen on expanding its focus beyond iron ore into critical minerals expected to play a pivotal role in clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure.
Mendoza provincial authorities told the delegation that while Argentina hosts several advanced copper projects in other regions, Mendoza presents significant long-term exploration opportunities owing to the relatively limited metallic mineral exploration undertaken over the past two decades. A key focus of the discussions was the Malargüe Western Mining District, which integrates more than 100 metallic mineral exploration projects under a unified environmental review framework.
The delegation also reviewed the province’s flagship copper assets and ongoing exploration initiatives that are expected to underpin Mendoza’s ambition of becoming one of Argentina’s leading copper-producing regions, NMDC said.
In July, the NMDC officials met Governor Carlos Sadir and senior provincial officials to discuss cooperation in copper, gold and other strategic minerals.
During a meeting, Federico Bazán, Minister of Labour, Employment, Industry and Mining of La Rioja, said the province was interested in partnering with NMDC on key prospecting initiatives.
In another meeting in Buenos Aires, the delegation held discussions with Joaquín Aberastain Oro, Secretary of Mining of Río Negro Province, to explore opportunities for cooperation in mineral exploration and development projects. The talks were aligned with Río Negro’s sustainable mining roadmap and NMDC’s global growth strategy.
Published – July 30, 2026 09:21 pm IST
