Ecuador and Chile Confront Energy and Tech Hurdles to Strengthen Mining Competitiveness

Ecuador’s mining sector faces a critical energy gap as a new study warns that the industry's electricity demand will outpace national generation capacity over the next five years. In response, the government has allocated US$278 million to upgrade transmission infrastructure and issued decrees requiring large miners to self‑supply 100 % of their power needs, aiming to secure reliable electricity for future growth.

In Chile, mining technology company NextOre is promoting magnetic‑resonance sensors that measure ore grade in real time. The system, adapted from medical MRI, provides continuous, volume‑wide mineral data before material reaches high‑energy processing stages, helping operators reduce energy, water, and transport costs while potentially lifting copper production by up to 10 %. The technology is presented as a way to improve productivity and competitiveness amid rising operational pressures.