The reopening of the Aguas Teñidas mine in 2006 has turned Sandfire MATSA into an economic engine for the province. The company celebrates two decades with 4,000 jobs and 96% of its workforce on permanent contracts.
Sandfire MATSA commemorates this 2026 twenty years since the reopening of the Aguas Teñidas mine in Almonaster la Real, a project that has evolved from a reactivation initiative to become one of the main economic drivers in the province of Huelva. The company, with three operational mines and an active treatment plant, currently generates over 4,000 jobs including direct, indirect, and induced positions, according to EFE.
The president of Mining Operations at Sandfire MATSA, Dale Burgess, has stated that the greatest achievement of this period has been "to build trust and demonstrate that mining can be a driver of economic, social, and future development for Huelva." The activity has consolidated in the regions of Andévalo and Sierra de Huelva, where it has helped to curb depopulation and retain young talent in municipalities such as Calañas, Cortegana, or El Cerro de Andévalo.
96% of the workforce has permanent contracts and 90% come from or reside in the province of Huelva. "Our goal is to enable new generations to develop a quality professional career without the need to emigrate," Burgess pointed out. The signing of the fifth collective agreement has included improvements such as medical insurance coverage for all staff and increased school aid for workers' children.
The company has also promoted the inclusion of women in a traditionally male-dominated industry: female employment now exceeds 23%. A recent example has been training in the operation of shovels and bolters aimed at the surrounding municipalities, where 80% of the participants were women.
In terms of technology, Sandfire MATSA invests between 100 and 110 million euros annually and has implemented the teleremote (RCT) system, which allows critical machinery to be operated from the surface, reducing human risks. The diversification of professional profiles is another key aspect: alongside specialists in machinery and maintenance, the sector now demands geologists, geotechnicians, metallurgists, data analysts, or engineers in automation and artificial intelligence.
Looking to the future, the company is advancing in the incorporation of new mineralization areas such as the La Calañesa mine, within Aguas Teñidas, which recorded its first blast in 2025. Additionally, it maintains an investment effort in intensive exploration programs to ensure the continuity of operations. "Our vision is to continue building a sustainable project over time, generating quality employment, training local talent, and maintaining a close relationship with the territory," concluded Burgess.
You may also like
