World Mining Congress 2026 — Lima, Peru | June 24–26, 2026 Technical Program Introduction | Page 6 are presented. This session reflects the maturation of planning science: uncertainty is no longer treated as noise to be suppressed, but as a fundamental input to be modelled and managed. Track 7: Andean Flagship Sessions (18 presentations) The Andean Flagship Sessions are a defining feature of WMC 2026 as a Latin American congress, bringing together regional and global perspectives on the themes that matter most to the host continent. Three sessions address sustainability legacies, Latin America's shifting geopolitical role in mineral supply, and smart mining innovation case studies from Andean operations. From Resources to Influence — Latin America's Mining Shift: The structural transformation of Latin American copper concentrate trade networks, Peru's strategy for sustainable investment promotion, the geopolitical implications of the region's critical mineral endowment (the 'Mineral Iceberg'), and the Pillones public-private partnership in Arequipa are presented. These contributions make a compelling case that Latin America is moving from price-taking commodity supplier to active shaper of the global minerals agenda. From Closure to Legacy — Rethinking Mining Sustainability: Post-mining governance in Peru and Colombia, mine closure as a social transition challenge, the progress of biodiversity offset frameworks in Peru against international guidelines, geothermal potential for Andean decarbonization, and the conditions for a community-mining social compact ('Triangle of Trust') are examined. This session confronts the full arc of the mining lifecycle as experienced in Latin American communities. Innovation at Work — Case Studies in Smart Mining: Peru's first autonomous ultra-class truck fleet at Quellaveco, AI-powered mineral exploration in Cajamarca, digital transformation at Minera Chinalco Peru, and Buenaventura's long-term value creation model are presented. These case studies demonstrate that world-class smart mining innovation is not the exclusive province of Australia, Canada, or Chile — it is happening in the Peruvian highlands. Track 8: Safety, Social Performance and Talent Management (16 presentations) This track addresses the human dimensions of mining: the safety of those who work underground and in processing plants, the relationships between mining operations and the communities in which they operate, and the development of the workforce that will carry the industry into the next generation. Three sessions cover safety leadership and critical controls, social performance and indigenous partnerships, and future workforce development. Health and Safety Leadership, Risks and Critical Controls: The Quantum Potential Index for measuring potential severity, the rehumanization of safety leadership in smart mining environments, critical control management systems, situational awareness in automated systems, and the who-pays-for-justice question for mining-affected communities are presented. The session reflects a safety culture community that is increasingly integrating human factors science, systems thinking, and AI into its practice. Social Performance and Indigenous Partnerships: From consultation to co-ownership, the operationalization of partnership frameworks with indigenous communities, the integration of indigenous values into project development, territorial governance as a tool for rebuilding trust, and responsible mining frameworks for the Indian context are presented. The consistent emphasis on genuine partnership — not merely procedural consultation — reflects a hard-won understanding that social license cannot be engineered from above. Future Workforce and Education Innovation: Bridging the double talent gap through AI and education, virtual and augmented reality in mining education, and a sustainable industry-academia collaboration model
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