José Antonio Merino

Career Summary

José Antonio Merino is based in Santiago, Chile and brings over 15 years of international and in-country experience to the Marimaca team. He is a Civil Engineer by training and has served in various senior roles in the natural resource industry across Project Development, M&A, Corporate Finance and Advisory.

As Managing Director, Chile, Merino oversees all in-country commercial, finance, administrative and site-based workstreams during the Company's path to development of the Marimaca Project. Since joining Marimaca in 2023, he has led the team that delivered numerous de-risking milestones, including environmental permits, securing water supply, power connections and commercial negotiations, and developing a self-produced sulphuric acid strategy.

Career History

• Senior Manager of Business Development and M&A at SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA)
• Non-Executive Director at Kore Potash Plc (2018–2020)
• Mining Investment Fund Manager at EPG Partners SA, a private equity firm focusing on mining and finance industry debt financing (2011–2016)
• Research Analyst at Santander Corredores de Bolsa Ltda.

Education

Merino earned his undergraduate degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

What José Antonio Merino could bring to Managing Director for Chile at Marimaca Copper Corp.: With his extensive M&A and corporate finance background from SQM—one of the world's largest lithium producers—Merino brings deep Chilean operational expertise and lithium/mining sector knowledge. His track record of securing environmental approvals and navigating Chilean permitting frameworks positions him to advance the company's flagship Marimaca Oxide Deposit toward construction, particularly as the company focuses on operational, permitting, and regional growth strategy in Chile's Antofagasta region.