The New Geopolitics of Critical Minerals and Latin America: Regional Industry Leaders to Discuss Strategies at the XVI SIMPOSIO
- Leaders from Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil will gather for a roundtable discussion to explore how the region can strengthen its competitiveness and attract investment in an increasingly challenging global environment.
Lima, 12 de mayo de 2026. In an international context marked by growing competition for critical minerals, the SIMPOSIO – XVI International Mining Meeting, organized by the National Society of Mining, Petroleum, and Energy (SNMPE), will host the roundtable discussion “Latin America in the Context of Global Competition for Critical Minerals,” a key forum for analyzing the region’s strategic role in the new geopolitics of mineral resources.
Moderated by Juan Carlos Guajardo, founder and CEO of Plusmining, the panel will feature prominent industry leaders: Roberto Cacciola, president of the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies (CAEM); Carlos Urenda, general manager of the Chilean Mining Council; Rinaldo Mancin, director of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at the Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM); and Angela Grossheim, executive director of SNMPE.
The session will focus on Latin America’s response to the global context, in which critical minerals—vital for the energy transition, electrification, and technological advancement—have taken on strategic importance for the world’s economies. It will address the region’s common challenges and opportunities for strengthening its position as a dependable supplier of these essential mineral resources.
One of the central themes of the dialogue will be managing political and regulatory risks, a key factor in maintaining investor confidence in an environment characterized by increased volatility and competition among jurisdictions. The panelists will discuss the conditions necessary to strengthen stability, institutional frameworks, and predictability—key elements for attracting long-term investment.
Likewise, emphasis will be placed on advancing toward regional strategies that improve Latin America’s competitiveness relative to other global mining hubs. This includes strengthening regulatory frameworks, promoting sustainability standards, and fostering coordination between the public and private sectors to drive project development.
The roundtable is part of the XVI SIMPOSIO program, which will take place from May 26 to 28 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Lima. This event will bring together business leaders, government authorities, academics, and international experts to discuss investment, sustainability, innovation, and the future of mining in Perú and worldwide. Through these discussions, the XVI SIMPOSIO has become a platform for technical and multisectoral dialogue that aims to contribute to the conversation on the challenges and opportunities facing the mining sector in a constantly evolving global context.
