About

Since 1996, leading international mining company Freeport-McMoRan has been in operating the El Abra open-pit copper mining complex in Chile’s El Loa province. Mario Larenas initially joined the company in 2013 as legal director for South America and since being featured in the inaugural GC Powerlist: Chile in 2017 has gained a promotion to his current position as legal and administration director, further developing his skills by taking on additional responsibilities. As part of this his new role, he participates in governmental and community relations as well as representatives with other stakeholders and third parties in all the recent and important company negotiations in addition to every important transaction for Freeport-McMoRan’s operation and exploration activities in Chile. Speaking on some his achievements at Freeport-McMoRan, Larenas says that ‘all the other areas of the company consider the involvement of the legal area, and the others that report to me, not only for technical issues, but also to contribute with a strategic view. I have been able to integrate our advice as a main component of every decision we take’. He also alludes to how this positive situation has arisen: ‘As I am leading several areas, what I have tried to do is to make my direct reports get involved in the operational and strategic areas. Having an integral view on the companies’ issues definitely help to find better solutions. I have also emphasised the need to differentiate the role of the in-house from outside counsel’. With nine years of in-house experience in Chile’s mining sector, Larenas is highly regarded amongst peers as a legal expert in the industry. He worked at Antofagasta Minerals and its mining contracting corporation, Minera Antucoya, prior to joining Freeport-McMoRan.