Vicuña Corp, a joint venture between BHP and Lundin Mining, has extended the mine life of the Josemaria copper-gold-silver project in Argentina’s San Juan province from 19 to 25 years. The extension follows new assessments showing greater mineral resources with a planned daily ore processing capacity of 175,000 tons.

An updated environmental impact report has been submitted to the provincial government, including a water management plan. The project remains in the pre-construction phase, with production targeted for 2030 and a technical report expected by mid-2026.

It may benefit from Argentina’s new large-scale investment incentives under President Milei’s administration. Josemaria and the nearby Filo del Sol deposit together hold an estimated 13 million tons of measured copper resources and 25 million tons inferred, which could help Argentina rejoin the world’s top 10 copper producers.