XVI International Mining Meeting
Santiago Basualdo
Manager, Large-Scale Mining Division at Ferreyros S.A.
Central Manager of Mining Division with over 27 years of experience in the mining industry. He served as the Southern Regional Manager for the Large Mining Division for 12 years. Previously, he worked at Caterpillar for 11 years and at Macrosa, a Caterpillar dealer in Argentina, for 5 years. During the first 5 years of his career at Macrosa, he served as Service Engineer, MARC (Maintenance and Repair Contract) Superintendent, Maintenance Contracts Manager, and Highway Truck Engine Business Leader. In 1999, he joined Caterpillar as a Mining Projects Consultant, working at various mine sites across Latin America, with a primary focus on SPCC (Southern Peru Copper Corp.). In 2005, he was appointed Service Engineer within the Power Systems Division, specializing in Gas Engines in Lafayette, IN, and Marine Engines in Mossville, IL—the manufacturing hubs for these Caterpillar product lines. In 2008, he assumed the role of Service Representative for Central America, the Caribbean, and Latin America for Caterpillar’s Power Systems business, collaborating with regional dealers and clients. Upon returning to the United States, he served as Business Development Manager for Caterpillar’s Renewable Energy sector, working on several projects focused on integrating traditional and renewable energy sources. Following the acquisition of Bucyrus, he transitioned back to the Mining sector as the Service Manager for Latin America, overseeing Caterpillar's full line of mining equipment. In September 2012, he was appointed Regional Manager for the Large Mining Division at Ferreyros, where he was responsible for mining operations in Southern Peru. Based in Arequipa, he led a team of over 700 personnel supporting open-pit operations. In April 2024, he was named Central Manager of Mining Division, currently leading an organization of over 1,800 people. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Wind Energy from the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen. He also served as a research engineer at the RISOE National Laboratory in Roskilde, Denmark. Most recently, he completed the Advanced Management Program at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in the United States.