The European Union and Latin America Are Committed to Sustainable and Innovative Mining to Strengthen the Copper and Lithium Value Chains
- Experts and authorities highlight the strategic value of Latin America and Peru in ensuring the responsible supply of critical minerals and generating innovative and sustainable value chains.
Lima, May 27, 2026. In a context of accelerated energy transition, collaboration between the European Union (EU) and Latin America is consolidating as a strategic axis for ensuring the sustainable supply of critical minerals, such as copper and lithium. This was highlighted by specialists and authorities during the SIMPOSIO – XVI International Mining Meeting, organized by the National Society of Mining, Petroleum, and Energy.
During the discussion “Opportunities to strengthen copper and lithium value chains: Alliance between the European Union and Latin America in sustainable mining,” the European Union Ambassador to Peru, Jonathan Hatwell, highlighted the strategic importance of Latin America in the global energy transition and the necessity of strengthening ties between the two regions.
“The energy transition is a reality well underway, and Latin America, particularly Peru, plays a central role. From the EU’s perspective, this represents a strategic alliance in which Europe provides technology, innovation, and advanced machinery, while Peru offers essential resources and an expanding capacity to develop value chains,” stated Hatwell.
In turn, Alexander Kofman, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Peru, along with Eduardo Barrera, a Mining Expert at the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Platform, presented a study aimed at identifying opportunities to enhance copper value chains between the European Union and Latin America.
Among the key findings, Barrera noted that “the EU possesses advanced capabilities in reducing water footprint, digitalization, and efficiency in mining, and seeks to strengthen cooperation with reliable partners such as Peru to address common challenges.”
Following this, an expert panel discussed the primary technological and regulatory challenges facing the sector. Michael Acosta, Director of Environmental Affairs at MINEM, emphasized, “In Latin America, we are developing competitiveness and capabilities for modern, inclusive, environmentally and socially sustainable mining. Human talent is essential for achieving this advancement.”
Pamela Antonioli, General Manager of the Mining Innovation Hub of Peru, stressed that “technological innovation is crucial for achieving smart, circular mining with a territorial focus. Given the gap between supply and demand for critical minerals, we must invest in technology and continuous training.”
Elizabeth Morales, Head of Environment and Sustainability at ARCADIS, highlighted that “mining competitiveness depends not only on geological resources but also on the ability to adapt to new international standards and incorporate technologies to advance decarbonization.”
The panel concluded that the European proposal aims to support sustainable mining in Peru, based on a strategic alliance of mutual trust and technology transfer, facilitating the creation of value chains that benefit both Peruvians and Europeans. The high European demand for copper, estimated at 11.2 million tons, underscores Peru’s vital role as a strategic partner in this new phase of international mining.
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