The Inaugural Paydirt Latin America DownUnder resources conference is being staged this week – Tuesday and Wednesday (May 22 and 23) in Sydney at the Sheraton on the Park, Elizabeth Street. Paydirt says “Australian juniors are starting to find recognition from investors as they unpick exploration opportunities in a region largely neglected in the past by ASX-listed companies.A decade ago, the ASX was a no-go zone for companies looking to raise money for projects in Latin America, stymied by misconceptions about stability, geopolitical risk and levels of development.“In 2012, the landscape is much changed. From fewer than 20 companies just four years ago, Latin America now plays host to more than 80 Australian miners and explorers. It has been a rapid rise and one that has coincided with a renewed interest in the region from the Australian Government with Austrade and DFAT expanding their representation there, including Special Resources Envoy Peter Beattie.

“Latin America is an enticing destination geologically and is host to some of the world’s biggest mines and most prolific producers.

“Chile is the world’s largest copper and second-largest molybdenum producer; Brazil is the world’s second-largest iron ore producer; Peru is the world’s eighth-largest gold producer and second-largest copper producer; Colombia has increasing coal reserves and production while Mexico is the world’s largest silver producer.

“The region is home to some of the world’s biggest mining operations, including: copper mines such as Escondida (expected to produce 1.3 Mt/y copper from 2015) and Collahausi (450,000t copper produced in 2011), gold operations such as Laguna Norte and Yanacocha as well as Brazil’s Iron Quadrilateral.”

Presenters will include Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, Federal Foreign Affairs Minister, Sen. Bob Carr, Senior Latin American Ministers, XStrata Copper CEO Charlie Sartain, Austrade and Australia-Latin America Business Council Chair, Jose Blanco