The company has said it is mainly interested inminingin areas of rock between existing flooded mine workings, but some of those flooded areas need to be pumped for safety.
Mr Cable acknowledged the seven companies - which mainly operate in the mining and extractive sectors - faced "unique challenges" in attracting more women since their line of work often involved regular travel and projects in "remote areas of the world".
The expansion of copper and gold miningin Chile and Peru has mainly occurred in arid areas and has led to competition for scarce water with both export agriculture and the needs of the indigenous population.