Sebastián D. Penelli The Taca Taca mine in Salta is set to mark a historical transformation for Argentine mining. The project, currently in a pre-viability stage led by First Quantum Minerals, could position the province as a key producer of copper, gold, and molybdenum, all essential minerals for the global energy transition.
The site is located near the Salar de Arizaro salt mine, 400 kilometers from Salta city and 35 kilometers from Tolar Grande. Its projected annual production is 250,000 tonnes of fine copper, 125,000 ounces of gold, and 3,500 tonnes of molybdenum. Copper concentration in the final product will be 30%.
The mine’s expected lifetime is 32 years, but new explorations could potentially extend that timeline.
Taca Taca is part of a larger project made up of several separate concession and exploration permits. First Quantum has managed to consolidate and prepare this site for the exploratory stage.
According to the company, two of the mining concessions share 50% of the property title with a third party. The land’s net smelting return is subject to a 1.5% royalty charge. The project is also suitable for conventional surface mining in bulk at a large scale.
Environmental monitoring at Taca Taca
Last February, the Salta mining and energy secretariat supervised environmental monitoring at Taca Taca.
The procedure included taking samples and collecting data on different environmental indicators through specific methodology: Caipe station surface water, subterranean water, as well as camp soil and effluents. The monitoring took place in areas set to be directly or indirectly affected by the project.
Secretariat personnel supervised all monitoring steps and noted that the project complied with regulatory norms mandated by resolution 4/18.
In addition to government officials and members of First Quantum subsidiary Corriente Argentina SA, the monitoring process also included representatives from the municipality, the Kolla de Tolar Grande indigenous community, as well as technical personnel from the EC & Associates consulting firm.
The future of copper
First Quantum foresees a US$3.5 billion investment to develop the Taca Taca project in the Los Andes district, Salta province. The enterprise will create over 4,000 indirect jobs during the construction phase and 2,800 direct positions once it becomes operational.
Mine development is estimated for 2025 and will be crucial to raise Salta’s GDP and set it up as a key actor in the global copper market.
Studies, permits, and the RIGI
The project is currently in an initial stage prior to exploitation and feasibility. The tasks at this juncture entail confirmation of mineralization, metallurgy sampling and analysis, and geotechnical studies of the mine. They are also conducting technical procedures required to better define engineering estimates, as well as costs and project operation.
The Salta production ministry, as well as its environmental, mining, and hydrological resources secretariat, is working on a thorough environmental and social impact study of Taca Taca. The Argentine Geological Mining Service (SEGEMAR, for its Spanish initials) is also involved after agreeing to conduct a technical evaluation and monitoring of the project’s three phases.
Argentina’s Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI, for its Spanish initials) will be a key driver of the Taca Taca project, facilitating investments and allowing the development of crucial infrastructure. It will also allow the company to complete the exploration phase and secure financing for construction, set to begin in 2026.
Management estimates that the project will be presented for RIGI evaluation in the coming weeks.
Jobs and infrastructure in Northern Argentina
The project’s 4,000 indirect jobs and the 2,800 direct ones will be geared by a commitment to hire local workers and regional suppliers.
Taca Taca’s impact will not be limited to mining. The project will also entail key investments in regional infrastructure, including electrical wiring, access to optic fiber, solar energy, highway and railroad repairs, and an airplane runway near Tolar Grande.
The Taca Taca train station, which could be conditioned and used to export minerals and import mining supplies, is located on a branch line that is part of the Ferrocarril General Belgrano in the Salar de Arizaro, 3,471 meters above sea level.
The branch line currently serves only cargo services. Furthermore, trains on the branch no longer cover the entirety of the track, which runs from Salta to the Santa Fe ports. The train service and infrastructure are managed by state-owned company Trenes Argentinos Cargas, a venture the government has set out to privatize.
A possible alternative, however, is to export concentrated copper through Chile. This plan entails repairing the tracks between Taca Taca and the Mejillones Bay. Mining experts agree that it would be a “pretty significant enterprise,” adding nonetheless that improvements to the railroad could potentially provide other opportunities for the province.
A new logistic path between Argentina and Chile
One of the project’s crucial strategic axes is the use of the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor, which would allow minerals to be transported to Chilean ports through the Salta-Antofagasta railway. This will be a key factor in determining Taca Taca’s feasibility for exporting.
This logistics plan entails the construction of a 125-kilometer electrical line that will be part of the Argentine interconnection system (SADi, for its Spanish initials) and will connect Taca Taca with an electrical substation in La Puna.
Community dialogue and social sustainability
The project also envisions an active relationship with the community. First Quantum is conducting constant inquiries with local communities, on-the-record meetings, and feedback mechanisms, as well as concrete actions like medical assistance through an outreach program, educational initiatives, and monitoring water use with flowmeters.
Global experience in responsible mining
First Quantum Minerals is one of the main global copper producers. It has operations in ten countries and is known for being able to carry out complex projects in challenging environments with a commitment to innovation and sustainability.