Contemporary Mining Environment in Mexico: Oroco’s Santo Tomás Project to progress in lockstep with stated National & State vision.
In a national press conference held on June 23, 2025, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that no new mining concessions will be granted during the tenure of her administration, continuing a policy established by the prior administration. In the same address Ms Sheinbaum emphasized that mining remains an active industry in Mexico, with permits presently being issued for areas such as tailings management, environmental mitigation, and regulatory upgrades to existing projects. These remarks reflect a pragmatic approach to resource development—one that supports continued investment while raising the bar for environmental oversight and positive social impact.
S&P Global: "Mexico will not approve new mining concessions, Sheinbaum says"
Oroco notes that the Santo Tomás copper project concessions long predate the freeze on the granting of new mining concessions. This allowed us to advance our Phase 1 technical work within a well-understood framework, and we remain committed to meeting environmental compliance requirements. We actively engage with regulators to ensure our activities comply with standards. Most crucially we maintain open channels of communication with authorities at the local, state, and federal levels to remain aligned with the social and development goals set for the region by its people and their leadership.
Federal Deputy to the Mexican Congress, Mario Zamora, presented a proposal to the Standing Committee of the 66th Congress of the Union, urging federal agencies to accelerate permitting for responsible foreign investment.
Mexico is entering a new chapter in the governance of its mineral resources and the focus for development is shifting. At Oroco, we believe that the future of mining in Mexico must be responsible, community-focused, and aligned with national goals. This isn’t just a position we’ve taken in response to policy shifts; it’s the vision we’ve had since the start of our work at Santo Tomás and that we trust our transparency in our site operations reflects.
Our project in Sinaloa and Chihuahua is advancing under secure mineral title and has sought to design in environmentally conscious mitigation and to ensure integration with regional infrastructure with the least possible impact. We have sought during exploration to ensure our work, including such things as water utilization and our on-site medical personnel, have had positive spinoffs for our neighbours.
We are also proud to have received public support from political leaders at both federal and local levels of government. The inclusion of the Santo Tomás project in Plan México’s regional economic strategy, Plan Sinaloa, recognizes Oroco’s approach is consistent with national priorities and aligned with broader goals for economic development and regional integration. Oroco’s processes have been consistent with current policy and align strategies for a strengthened local economy and infrastructure growth.
On June 16, 2025, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and Secretary of the Economy Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas highlighted Santo Tomás as one of the strategic drivers behind the state’s revised Foreign Direct Investment target of $3 billion, up from $2 billion. It was emphasized that the state is seeking to foster strong investor confidence and maintain momentum for strong economic growth. Secretary Velarde noted that this level of investment reflects the trust and close collaboration Sinaloa maintains with project developers and foreign capital.
Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and Sinaloa Secretary of the Economy Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas (right of picture) during a June 16th, 2025 Press Conference.
Further to this, on June 18th, 2025, Mexico’s Secretary of Economy launched the country’s first National Mining Education Committee, furthering Plan Mexico’s goal to modernize and innovate across the mining sector. The governors of Zacatecas and Sonora, David Monreal Ávila and Alfonso Durazo, have both emphasized that this initiative will help position mining as a core driver of economic development at both the regional and national level—just as it is in Sinaloa.
This government alignment is intentional. We share the same vision for the future of mining in Mexico that its government envisions: a modern mining industry committed to responsibility and sustainability, delivering enduring value through economic growth.
Government of Mexico website: Mexico is committed to mining innovation: the Ministry of Economy establishes the first Mining Education Committee 2025
At Santo Tomás we are advancing our project with environmental and social capacity building top of mind. That includes support for STEM and ecological/environmental education from an early age in the communities near the project. We believe in nurturing young minds early; mentorship and education are key to building a strong foundation for long-term community development. We’re pleased to be part of Mexico’s modern mining story.
Earlier this month our project team in Choix visited one of the computer labs equipped by Oroco founders at an elementary school in Choix: there we distributed educational children’s books - developed by the Mexican Mining Center - to introduce students to the roles natural resources play in their lives, the importance of ecology and the consequential fundamentals of responsible mining.
On June 23rd, 2025, we celebrated International Women in Engineering Day. This anniversary of the founding of the Women’s Engineering Society recognizes the achievements of women who are shaping the future of science, technology, and discovery.
Meet Laura Sánchez, Surveyor at Oroco. She is distinguished by her expertise in high-precision GPS topographic surveying and drone survey operations. Her work ensures centimeter-accurate 3D surface models for exploration targeting, optimizing field efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Copper is essential to the energy transition, and Oroco remains committed to advancing responsible future copper production at Santo Tomás. By prioritizing innovation and sustainability, we can support Mexico’s ongoing role in the long-run supply of sustainable copper to world markets.
We invite you to stay connected as we continue to share progress on the path ahead.
From all of us at Oroco — wishing you all a Happy Canada Day, wherever you may be.
Our MEXI CAN team sporting their “can-do” attitude in support of Canada Day! Thanks Doris, Dn Ubaldo, Ubaldo and Miguel. Love the shirts, and the spirit!
