In Uspallata, the San Jorge Mining Project for copper extraction is once again attempting to gain approval, despite the lack of social license for megamining in the province. The Solway group, owner of Minera San Jorge since 2015, operates in several countries. The project's reappearance comes after the Sustainable Mining Summit in Mendoza and has been supported by Governor Alfredo Cornejo.
The mining office in Uspallata was recently inaugurated, an event attended by the mayor of Las Heras, Francisco Lo Preti. However, during the inauguration, some locals were assaulted by members of UOCRA, the union associated with the mining lobby. In response, protesters will mobilize this Saturday in Uspallata to express their rejection of the San Jorge Mining Project.
The project involves open-pit copper extraction, with the processing of ore to obtain copper and gold concentrate. Despite claiming it will not use substances such as cyanide, sulfuric acid, or mercury, it proposes the use of other unspecified elements in its Environmental Impact Report. This report, which has been recently submitted, highlights the intention to operate in the precordillera of Mendoza, between 2,400 and 2,900 meters above sea level.
In previous years, the project was managed by Coro Mining Corp and was rejected due to community protests. Then, in 2015, it was acquired by the Solway Group through Zonda Metals GmBH from Switzerland and the Alberdi Group from Argentina. These companies have been controversial due to their history in other regions, such as Guatemala, where violations of rights and pollution have been reported.
The Alberdi Group, another company involved in the project, has been cited for fraudulent practices and its negative environmental impact in other operations. Resistance to the presence of megamining in Mendoza has been constant, with the protection of water and territory being a cause that mobilizes the population.
Despite the arguments for job creation and economic benefits put forward by the government and mining companies, the lack of social license and the contentious history of the companies in other regions continue to generate resistance among the Mendoza population. The fight against megamining in the region remains a topic of ongoing debate and mobilization by the community.