The Fabricaciones Militares plant in Jáchal, which became an important regional economic center, closed permanently in June of last year, causing a significant impact on the local economy and society. Inaugurated in 2014 with the virtual presence of then-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, this plant was the third most important unit of Fabricaciones Militares within Argentina.
According to Marcelo Aguirre, president of the Jáchal Chamber of Commerce, the factory's closure has been devastating for the region, as the salaries it offered stimulated the economy of the department. Despite attempts to revitalize the plant, including meetings with mining companies and local representatives in search of reinvestments, the decline in demand could not be reversed.
The closure of the factory left more than 80 workers unemployed in 2024. The site was the scene of an auction that took place on January 28, marking the end of an era. A small group of security personnel still remains to guard the facilities, but the lack of funding allocation from the national government ultimately sealed the fate of the plant.
Experts and local leaders point out that, with the right investment, the Jáchal plant could have become a strategic node for supplying explosives to mining projects in various regions of the country. However, the lack of planning and commitment to harness its potential led to the definitive closure of the factory.
Despite efforts by some workers to start businesses after receiving compensation, others are still struggling to reintegrate into the workforce. The plant, which once represented a promise of development for the region, is now reduced to an empty space guarded by only six people. Attempts to reorient it towards non-metallic mining and to undertake improvements have not succeeded.
The lack of infrastructure updates for producing emulsions, an essential product for modern mining, was one of the main obstacles faced by the plant. With the closure of the Jáchal factory, there is a possibility that other Fabricaciones Militares units in Argentina may face the same fate. This has left the plant off the radar of large mining projects that opted for suppliers with more advanced technology.
