As part of the 27th World Mining Congress (WMC), Peru’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Waldir Ayasta Mechán, chaired a high-level roundtable with government representatives and international organizations from 10 countries. Participants unanimously recognized Peru as a key global producer of strategic minerals that are essential to the energy transition and to addressing the challenges facing the global mining industry.
Representatives from the European Union and countries across Europe, the Americas, and Asia highlighted Peru’s strategic role in the global mining market. During the discussion, Minister Ayasta noted that Peru’s greatest strength lies in its polymetallic resource base, while also acknowledging the country’s near-term challenges, including digital transformation and the need to streamline administrative procedures.
During the roundtable, the representative of the European Union stated that demand for critical minerals is at the center of the international agenda and recognized Peru as a key global supplier for the energy transition. The representative also emphasized that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria will be essential to achieving sustainable end products.
The representative of the United Kingdom highlighted the country’s close relationship with Peru as a major producer of copper and zinc, emphasizing Peru’s reliability as a partner. He also underscored the importance of renewable energy and an efficient regulatory framework during the exploration stage.
The representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands proposed three pillars for building mutually beneficial partnerships: international cooperation, investment in sustainability and education for digital transformation, and a comprehensive vision in which water and energy infrastructure continue to deliver value beyond the life of mining projects.
Meanwhile, the delegate from Malaysia stressed the importance of maintaining a high level of international collaboration and strengthening resilient value chains. He noted that today’s challenge is to produce minerals sustainably, enhance industrial capabilities, and build trust through collaborative competitiveness.
Brazil’s representative praised Peru’s geological potential and emphasized the need for mining to generate tangible benefits for local communities. He added that Brazil’s mining policy seeks not only to export minerals but also to promote specialized industries while taking climate impacts into account.
The conclusions of the roundtable reaffirmed the participating countries’ commitment to promoting environmentally and socially sustainable mining investment, strengthening international cooperation, creating greater value-added opportunities, and fostering specialized industries. Participants also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the benefits of mining reach local communities, advancing efficient regulatory frameworks that promote stability and investor confidence, and consolidating education and digital transformation as strategic pillars for the future of the mining industry.
