MARA was born from an international merger of first class companies. . MARA is the controlling company of Minera Agua Rica LLC Sucursal Argentina and Minera Alumbrera Limited.
MARA is conducting technical studies to develop the Agua Rica deposit as part of a new integrated project, the process of which is described below:
New Minera Agua Rica – Minera Alumbrera Integrated Project
In December 2020, the shareholders completed the legal processes at international level, which constitute the operative framework that allows the local development of the Agua Rica project using the infrastructure of the UTE Minera Alumbrera –YMAD. Thus, the MARA Integrated Project was born.
The local integration takes place through a service contract and a series of commercial contracts that allow the execution of such service contract.
The possibility of using the assets of Minera Agua Rica LLC Sucursal Argentina and Minera Alumbrera Limited as agreed upon in the contracts mentioned in the previous paragraph, will provide strategic synergies for the better development of the MARA Integrated Project, and means another decisive step to develop Agua Rica using the capacity and infrastructure of the UTE Minera Alumbrera-YMAD.
MARA Integrated Project responds to a sustainable model of efficient mining, with a focus on the environmental care, participatory control of the community in the progress of the project through participation in transparent and regular monitoring, development of local suppliers, and hiring and training local labor force.
MARA Integrated Project will have employees from Minera Agua Rica LLC Sucursal Argentina and Minera Alumbrera Limited, in addition to any new employees that may be required as the Project progresses.
Additionally, in order to make a significant and sustainable contribution to local development, the company has been working on various social initiatives in the education, health, food, and the production of goods and services areas.
MARA Integrated Project aims, in collaboration with public and private entities, to enhance the capacity of the local and provincial community to provide the goods and services required for its operation.
In addition to the experience gathered by Minera Agua Rica LLC Sucursal Argentina and Minera Alumbrera Limited, dialogue sessions have been recently held with the community and local and provincial authorities to understand in depth the needs and concerns of different groups in society in relation to the economic, social and environmental impact of mining. It is on this basis that the community control model of the MARA Integrated Project is being developed.
Los derechos de exploración y explotación de ambos yacimientos pertenecen a Yacimientos Mineros de Aguas de Dionisio (YMAD), una sociedad integrada por el gobierno de la provincia de Catamarca (60%), y la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (40%).
Alumbrera
Minera Alumbrera Limited carried out, until 2018, the development of the Bajo de La Alumbrera and Bajo del Durazno mining projects, located in the northwest of the province of Catamarca.
The exploration and exploitation rights of both deposits belong to Yacimientos Mineros de Aguas de Dionisio (YMAD), a company formed by the government of the province of Catamarca (60%) and the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (40%).
Minera Alumbrera Limited has entered into a union transitoria de empresas (UTE) (similar to a joint venture) with YMAD to operate the Bajo de la Alumbrera and Bajo el Durazno mining projects. Under the UTE agreement, YMAD receives a 20% share in Bajo de la Alumbrera’s net production and a 30% share in Bajo del Durazno’s net production.
The Bajo de la Alumbrera mine is located in the province of Catamarca, at 2,600 meters above sea level. It is a copper, gold and molybdenum deposit that was developed on surface from 1997 to 2017.
Minera Alumbrera Limited is currently controlled by Minera Agua Rica Alumbrera Limited (“MARA”).
It is worth recalling that that Minera Alumbrera Limited continues to carry out the closure tasks of the infrastructure that will not be used in the MARA Integrated Project, complying with all the obligations requested by the provincial authorities, as well as the care and maintenance tasks of the infrastructure to be integrated.
Minera Agua Rica
Minera Agua Rica LLC is the owner of the Agua Rica deposit, a polymetallic copper, molybdenum, gold and silver deposit located in Andalgalá, Catamarca.
The Agua Rica project is in exploration stage (insert link?).
Minera Agua Rica LLC Sucursal Argentina is carrying out advanced exploration works, which will allow the updating of information in order to develop the corresponding feasibility and environmental impact study.