San Juan is again at the center of a debate that goes beyond mining: without large-scale logistics works, copper potential may be constrained by the real capacity to move machinery, supplies and production. The issue is no longer framed only in terms of natural resources, but also roads, international crossings, railways and execution timelines.
A report on infrastructure and logistics circulating among governors warns that Argentina's freight system will have to move from nearly 128 million tons per year today to almost 194 million by 2035. That increase, above 50%, includes industrial, agricultural, energy and mining cargo, and would require investments to be anticipated before projects are fully operational.
For San Juan, the warning is especially sensitive because of the progress of copper projects at different stages. Pressure on infrastructure would not begin only with production, but during mine construction, when heavy equipment, materials and supplies must be transported to areas of high territorial complexity.
The critical points identified for the province include National Route 40, both northbound and southbound, and the National Route 150 corridor. That axis is considered strategic for connecting mining activity with international markets, but it would require planning beyond isolated road repairs.
The shortfall also affects the connection with Chile. San Juan has the Agua Negra Pass, used mainly for tourism and civil traffic, but without sufficient conditions to sustain a permanent flow of heavy cargo. A pilot experience moving lime through that corridor did not continue, reinforcing the need for works, safety protocols and rules for coexistence between tourism and mining logistics.
Rail transport appears as another pending chapter. The possible tender for Belgrano Cargas is seen as an opportunity to improve regional competitiveness, although there are still no concrete definitions. The possibility of a future international crossing through Calingasta is also being mentioned again, still without a finalized project.
Timing is part of the problem. Although the horizon of greater mining production is placed between 2032 and 2035, the works should be ready earlier to support the construction phase. Without early decisions, infrastructure could become the main limit preventing San Juan from capturing the economic impact of copper.
