Renowned San Juan geologist Mario Hernandez has been appointed as the new Sustainability Manager for the Los Azules copper project, operated by McEwen Copper in the province of San Juan.

By Panorama Minero

With over thirty years of involvement in Argentine mining, he has been involved in the exploration, prospecting, and development of various mining projects, including the Gualcamayo mine. He most recently served as Director of Community Relations for the MARA Project in Catamarca and was also the President of the Mining Chamber of San Juan and the Group of Exploring Companies of the Argentine Republic (GEMERA).

According to McEwen, he will be responsible for developing and implementing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and Sustainability strategies to enhance social performance and governance in one of the largest copper projects in the country.

Additionally, they stated, "Mario Hernández is a professional with extensive experience in mining exploration in Argentina, project development, social license management, responsible business practices, mediation, and negotiation in social conflicts."

In his role at Los Azules, he will oversee the implementation of sustainable policies and practices throughout the organization, manage the Community Relations department, as well as lead the planning and execution of projects and processes that promote sustainable development.

Michael Meding, Vice President of McEwen Copper and General Manager of Los Azules, commented, "We continue to add leaders to the team who bring deep knowledge in exploration, construction, and operation of top-tier projects. Mario will contribute his vast experience in sustainability and will lead a key area for Los Azules: community relations."

Hernández expressed, "I am thrilled to join Los Azules, a project that is fundamental to the economy of San Juan and Argentina. It is extremely important to generate and create social value in Calingasta, and I believe that is the key mission one has when doing this work. Mining is a social creation, and under that concept, we must work closely with the community to ensure that this project is a factor for growth and development for society. That is the main objective for joining the Los Azules team."