Mexico’s mining sector faces a critical bottleneck, with 160 projects stalled due to missing environmental permits and the absence of formal regulations under the new Mining Law, threatening billions in investment and delaying the country’s production of precious and critical minerals, Rubén del Pozo, President, the Mexican Association of Mining, Metallurgical, and Geological Engineers (AIMMGM) warned.
“We have 160 projects currently stalled. About 60% have been approved, but the rest are in various stages, some well advanced, others just beginning. There is no uniform situation across all projects,” Del Pozo Mendoza explained during the International Mining Conference in Chihuahua 2026.
The main reason for these delays is the absence of environmental permits, which he identified as the primary barrier to investment. While Mexico has favorable geological conditions for locating deposits, he stressed that significant investment is needed to determine their location, quality, and quantity. “This requires millions of dollars over the long term, and each day of delay puts us behind other countries. If this continues, we risk missing the opportunity to produce precious metals and critical minerals,” he warned.
Del Pozo Mendoza noted that the government of Claudia Sheinbaum has shown willingness to address the challenges affecting the mining sector. “We have already engaged in dialogue to highlight the importance of demonstrating openness, especially given current metal prices and the growing demand for critical minerals and rare earth elements essential for energy transmission,” he said.
The slowdown intensified after the new Mining Law was published, as it lacks regulations that would provide legal certainty for both domestic and foreign investors. “Uncertainty is the greatest enemy of investment, compounded by insecurity and crime in some regions,” he emphasized.
He added that strong institutions are critical, as insecurity in certain parts of Mexico is discouraging mining investment. By mid-2026, the government plans to approve four gold, silver, and zinc projects in Baja California, Chihuahua, and Zacatecas.
Del Pozo highlighted the urgent need for exploration permits, which remain pending, and expressed uncertainty over when the Mining Law regulation will be finalized. Some industry voices suggest that a completely new Mining Law might be the best solution, as the current law is difficult to correct through regulations alone.
Government Aims for Permit Greenlighting
Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard had previously confirmed the federal government’s intention to accelerate mining permit approvals starting in 2026. Speaking at the XXXVI International Mining Convention 2025, Ebrard stated that the administration is committed to restarting large-scale exploration, streamlining pending procedures, and facilitating investment to secure supply chains amid a tense geopolitical climate. “Securing supply chains is a national priority,” he noted, highlighting that three new permits for land use and environmental impact had already been approved as part of this initiative, without mentioning which projects received the approvals.
He acknowledged the Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) as one of the government’s closest partners in addressing water, regulation, and permitting issues, noting that authorities were finally taking the first steps to resolve these bottlenecks. Ebrard expressed optimism that 2026 will yield good results, driven by a coincident agenda on sustainability and labor responsibility.
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