Can you outline TecProMin's most important milestones in the past year?

Over the past year, we consolidated our presence in the lithium industry with successful projects in Argentina and Chile, establishing ourselves as a leading supplier in Latin America. We won two large tenders with key lithium players in Chile to build significant projects. This has led our company to do some restructuring to provide better commercial, technical, and logistical support. We have also been seeking more partners for both manufacturing and support services, leading us to expand our operations beyond our borders and subcontract manufacturing in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere.

To successfully complete all these projects, we have had to hire more specialized personnel. Looking ahead, 2024 holds great promise, especially due to our geographical diversification plans.

How important is collaboration in the mining industry to address the sector’s current challenges?

Collaboration among stakeholders in the mining sector is crucial to address current challenges. Both mining companies and service providers must be aligned to delineate common goals and navigate market dynamics. As a Chilean company, we need to stay updated with client requirements, adapting their technological guidelines to suit our national context, and increasing our specialization accordingly. To stay ahead of the curve, we continuously explore new technologies and innovate within our operations. When it comes to participating in tender processes, we prioritize technological capability over purely economic considerations. Given the international nature of our industry, we are constantly engaged in global competition, which requires us to maintain a high level of technological advancement.

What is the current geographical presence of the company, and what are your expansion plans?

We have completed projects on all continents, in countries such as Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Spain, Ireland, Australia, the USA, Mexico, and many more.

Currently, TecProMin is focused on consolidating and expanding its operations in key strategic markets, particularly in Peru and Mexico. These markets represent significant growth opportunities, and together with Chile, they serve as essential hubs for covering the entire Latin American region. We are also committed to global expansion, making sure we have a strong presence in every market we enter. We are analyzing opportunities in Brazil despite its trade restrictions, and we want to consolidate our presence in the USA, leveraging our foothold in the Mexican market.

How does TecProMin stand out in a highly competitive market?

In bidding for projects, we often find ourselves competing based on economic criteria, meaning that sometimes our solutions are not initially selected due to their price. However, when clients chose cheaper options that do not yield the desired services, they turn to us for reliable and quality services. This happens a lot with our sampling services, which has made us a key player in Chile and Peru’s main mineral ports.

Our sampling systems are used in 30-40% of the world's copper production, and we ensure that samples are representative and of high quality for our clients. Our systems undergo independent audits, guaranteeing the reliability and transparency of our operations.

What has been TecProMin's experience in the Argentine market?

Argentina has been a crucial market for us in the last two decades, despite political and economic challenges. We have been involved in most of the relevant mining projects in the country, and our focus on the lithium industry has grown enormously in the last 10-15 years. Argentina represents approximately 40-50% of one of our main lines of business related to reagent preparation.

What would you like to achieve in the coming years?

Our goal is to continue to be known in the market as a high-quality boutique firm with fair prices, and to maintain our human and technological edge. Competition in this field is fierce, so we will focus on technological improvement and quality service. We have invested heavily in after-sales and field services, which are now a significant part of our income. We are always busy quoting specific projects and adapting to the individual needs of each client. In terms of sampling systems, our efficiency will be essential to help producers maximize their profits in times of low commodities prices.