Mining Work Program (PTO): what it is and how it is prepared

The Mining Work Program, known by its Spanish initials as the PTO, is the document in which the title holder shows the Mining Authority how the deposit will be mined, with which method, over what timeframe and with what resources. It is submitted before the exploration stage ends, because without its approval the project cannot move into construction and assembly or into production.

The PTO starts from the description of the deposit and of the reserves to be mined, and on that basis justifies the method, underground or open pit, and presents the design of the workings. Because that design depends on the geology, the shape of the mineralized body and the ground conditions, two mines of the same mineral may need different methods. The document also includes these components:

• Production schedule: shows how much will be extracted each year, consistent with the declared reserves.
• Budget: covers the investment and the operating costs required by the work plan.
• Ventilation and ground support plans: mandatory in underground mining.
• Link with the environmental component: explains how the operation fits with the environmental instrument.
• Mine Closure Plan: since 2026 it is submitted as part of the PTO.

The authority evaluates the program against terms of reference that set the content of each chapter. Its most common observations point to a mining method without sufficient justification, a schedule that does not match the declared reserves, or a budget that does not cover the work plan. In underground mining, missing ventilation or ground support plans are also frequent. All of them can be caught before filing with a chapter-by-chapter review.

The work begins with a site visit and a review of the file and of the available geological information. On that basis we define the method, design the workings and prepare the schedule and the budget, so that every figure in the document can be supported with deposit data. You receive the PTO ready for filing, and if the Mining Authority raises observations we prepare the response with you. Approval is the authority's decision.