During the meeting, Mendoza officials presented the Malargüe Western Mining District, the province’s energy strategy, and the policies that position Mendoza as an attractive destination for investment in mining and energy.
Governor Alfredo Cornejo met with representatives of NMDC Limited (National Mineral Development Corporation), India’s largest mining company and one of Asia’s leading state-owned mining enterprises. The company visited Mendoza to learn firsthand about the investment opportunities the province offers in the mining and energy sectors.
Throughout the working agenda, the delegation received detailed information about Mendoza’s geological potential, the Malargüe Western Mining District (MDMO)—for which they requested specific information on several exploration projects—and other strategic initiatives related to mining, energy, and natural resources promoted by the provincial government.
Joining Governor Cornejo at the meeting were Manuel Sánchez Bandini, Undersecretary of Energy and Mining; Jerónimo Shantal, Director of Mining; José María Videla Sáenz, Undersecretary of Institutional Relations; Sebastián Piña, Executive Director of Impulsa Mendoza; and Fernanda Sabadín, Coordinator of Outreach and Institutional Relations at the Ministry of Energy and Environment.
The NMDC Limited delegation included Anurag Kapil, Director of Finance; Anupama Gali, Chief General Manager of NMDC Global; Mohammed Nijas, Assistant General Manager (Finance); and Trishant Khatri, Assistant General Manager (Mining) at NMDC Global. The delegation was also accompanied by Santhosha H., Second Secretary (Political and Commercial) at the Embassy of India in Argentina.
During this first official meeting with provincial authorities, the company’s representatives learned about Mendoza’s public policies aimed at developing a modern, sustainable, and competitive mining industry, as well as the measures implemented to provide legal certainty, reliable geological information, and territorial planning that support long-term investment.
One of the central topics of the meeting was the Malargüe Western Mining District (MDMO), which covers nearly 20,000 square kilometers and 703,000 hectares with significant potential for copper and other critical minerals essential to the global energy transition. The delegation also received information about additional opportunities linked to Mendoza’s energy development strategy and its broader natural resource potential.
Governor Cornejo welcomed the delegation and highlighted the province’s efforts to promote a new stage of mining development.
“We are undertaking a major effort to develop mining while ensuring the highest environmental standards, but also to create an economic activity that Mendoza has never fully developed despite its enormous potential,” he said.
The Governor also emphasized Mendoza’s commitment to providing predictable conditions and clear rules for investors.
“We want to move forward as quickly as possible. We know this industry will continue to grow, and we must be prepared. We have extensive information to share so companies can make informed investment decisions.”
He added that Mendoza has “a highly efficient permitting framework” and noted that projects approved by the Provincial Legislature enjoy strong legal certainty, ensuring continuity regardless of future political changes. He concluded by expressing the provincial government’s interest in advancing future investment and cooperation opportunities with NMDC.
For his part, Undersecretary Manuel Sánchez Bandini explained that Mendoza’s energy matrix is becoming increasingly renewable and presented the province’s energy profile as well as the policy framework supporting mining development.
He noted that Mendoza has historically relied on hydroelectric generation and has significantly expanded renewable energy projects in recent years, creating a cleaner electricity mix that strengthens the competitiveness of industries linked to the energy transition.
“Copper produced using lower-carbon energy sources is more competitive and achieves greater value in international markets,” Sánchez Bandini explained.
He also highlighted Mendoza’s substantial potential in both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons, outlining the province’s long-term prospects for energy production and industrial development.
A Global Mining Leader
NMDC Limited is India’s largest iron ore producer, with annual production exceeding 53 million metric tons. The company also explores and develops copper, diamonds, tungsten, phosphate, limestone, magnesite, and other strategic minerals.
With a workforce of more than 5,000 employees and highly mechanized operations, NMDC has established itself as one of the world’s leading mining companies and a key supplier of the critical minerals needed for industrial growth and the global energy transition.
NMDC’s visit represents another clear sign of the growing international interest in Mendoza. Leading mining companies increasingly view the province as a destination offering exceptional geological potential, legal certainty, long-term planning, and an integrated strategy that combines mining, energy, and infrastructure development to support major investment projects.