Fernando Arrieta, CEO of Alpayana, Says, “The Acquisition of Minera Argentum Is in the Process of Authorization by Indecopi”

 In this interview with CEO Fernando Arrieta, Minera Alpayana shares updates regarding its participation in PERUMIN 36, where it will provide an overview of recent acquisitions aimed at creating synergies with its current operational units in order to become a leading Peruvian mining group in Latin America. He will also share the actions the company has taken in terms of environmental responsibility and social engagement. 

What relevance and expectations does PERUMIN 36 hold for Alpayana?

At Alpayana, we want to share our expansion and growth plan with the aim of being recognized as a leading Peruvian mining group both locally and regionally. Through our 4 mining units: Americana, Yauliyacu, Iscaycruz, and soon Morococha, we seek to create a positive impact through our actions with the purpose of continuing to generate opportunities for our surroundings.

What news or information will you share at the event?

We want to reaffirm to all attendees at PERUMIN 36 that we are permanently committed to our country. A clear example of this commitment is the recent signing of an agreement for the acquisition of Compañía Minera Argentum, a process currently undergoing authorization by Indecopi. This company is the owner of the Morococha mining unit. The aim is to seek synergies in our operations, given its proximity to other mining units of the Alpayana mining group. This acquisition adds to our acquisition at the end of last year of Los Quenuales mining company and, thereby, its Yauliyacu and Iscaycruz mining units.

All of these acquisitions are part of our goal to become the leading Peruvian capital mining group in the region. Therefore, we remain focused on the objective of further growing in the coming years and incorporating other mining units to continue creating opportunities for growth and development for our employees, the communities, and the entire country. 

How is the acquisition process of Los Quenuales going and what steps are you taking?

The acquisition process concluded in December 2022. Since then, we have been working on integration plans with the employees of the units, creating synergies in all areas: operations, environment, community relations, and Alpayana culture.

We aim for this to be a learning process where both cultures benefit from the best practices implemented over the years, positively impacting our employees, society, and the progress of hundreds of Peruvian families. 

We are confident that the integration plans we have in place following the acquisition of Compañía Minera Argentum will follow a similarly successful path.

What are the most notable achievements in terms of environmental responsibility?

At Alpayana, we have a strong commitment to protecting the environment in our areas of influence. We have received the first and second stars of recognition given by the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) in the "Huella de Carbono Perú" (Carbon Footprint Peru) program in 2022 and 2023, respectively. 

Furthermore, we have initiated the measurement of our water footprint at the Americana Mining Unit with the aim of obtaining the "Certificación Azul" (Blue Certification) granted by the National Water Authority (ANA). These recognitions are important to us as they indicate that we are heading in the right direction.

In pursuit of the same objective, we have implemented an Integrated Management System for the environment and occupational health and safety, which holds ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications. We also treat 100% of the organic waste from the Americana and Yauliyacu mining units, with a significant portion of it being directed to the Qallariy circular economy project, while the rest is used to produce compost and technosoils.

What actions are you currently undertaking regarding social engagement?

We reaffirm our commitment to maintaining a strong relationship of trust with the communities neighboring our operational areas through our social contributions, especially in the fields of education and health. For example, through the corporate volunteer program Haku and with the support of the authorities in the Casapalca annex, we have built the Casapalca Health Post with modern infrastructure. This health post will have category I-3 status according to the Ministry of Health (MINSA).

This upgrade in category will enable the health facility to have more medical staff and specialties to provide personalized care to thousands of people in the Casapalca annex. This quality healthcare initiative adds to our efforts in education and economic development, resulting in significant improvements in the conditions of communities in our areas of influence.