Tag Archives: Peru

AECI lays the ground work for explosives, chemicals expansion in Peru

Explosives and blasting, Mining consumables, Mining services, , , , ,

As part of its strategy to further internationalise its Mining Service business, AECI has acquired a significant development project in Peru.

This acquisition not only marks a fundamental step in AECI’s global expansion strategy, but also, it says, positions the manufacturer of explosives and chemicals solutions for mineral processing at the forefront of innovation in the Latin American mining industry.

Since its expansion into Brazil and Chile in 2020, AECI’s entry into Peru establishes the company as a dominant player in one of the world’s most dynamic mining regions, the company says, offering an opportunity for AECI to deliver its products and services to a market ready for growth.

Holger Riemensperger, Chief Executive Officer of AECI, says: “Peru represents a strategic addition to our growing footprint in Latin America. This acquisition not only strengthens our position in a key market but also underscores our commitment to providing innovative and sustainable solutions that meet the evolving needs of the global mining industry. We are not just expanding geographically; we are setting new standards in how mining solutions are delivered.”

The newly acquired project encompasses nearly 200 ha of strategically located land, complete with permits to build state-of-the-art explosive manufacturing plants. Situated in the heart of Peru’s most productive mining region, this land will serve as a launchpad for AECI’s direct operations, enabling the company to supply safely and efficiently to the local mining industry.

Thinus Bierman, Acting Executive Vice President of AECI Mining, said: “Our investment in Peru is a testament to our confidence in the country’s mining sector and our strategic vision for the future. We are not merely entering a new market; we are making a commitment to drive growth through innovation, local partnerships and a deep understanding of our customers’ needs. This is about creating value for our stakeholders and setting the stage for the next chapter of growth.”

The development project will empower AECI to deliver a comprehensive suite of products and services, ranging from high-performance explosives, as well as the introduction of its electronic detonators and initiating systems. It also includes the offering of its specialised mining chemicals.

The company said: “With significant planned investments in infrastructure and technology, AECI is poised to maximise the potential of this project, ensuring a consistent and reliable supply to its customers, while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in mining.”

Bradken aims for South America mill liner expansion with Funtec facility acquisition

Base metals, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Bradken, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd, has purchased the land, buildings and some facilities necessary for a foundry from Fundacion Technologica S.A. (Funtec), a manufacturer of steel castings for mining sites in Peru.

Bradken says it aims to rapidly supply products and further expand its mill liner business to respond to the vigorous demand in South America, with a focus on Peru and Chile where hard rock is mined in abundance. Bradken will now complete construction of the foundry with first production of large mill liners expected in 2026.

This recent purchase was decided as part of the goal to provide products and solutions that solve customer issues at various touch points from pit to plant at mining sites.

The South American market for mill liners is the world’s largest, according to Bradken, and focuses on hard rock. Chile and Peru, in particular, have a high concentration of copper and gold mines which account for more than 80% of the demand for large mill liners in the South American region, it said.

Currently, Bradken imports mill liners for the South American market from India and Canada. However, producing mill liners locally in Peru will build a speedy product supply system and improve the ability to meet the needs of customers, including providing a pathway to recycle spent liners, delivering a more sustainable mining process.

The foundry purchased from Funtec is located in Chilca, some 70 km south of the capital city of Lima, Peru. Since this foundry is located in an industrial park, has many of the main plant items on site and already has permission for plant operation, typical approval and construction times can be accelerated, according to the company.

Furthermore, due to the ability to procure power based on hydroelectric power generation utilising Peru’s water resources, the new plant is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions during plant operation by approximately 95% compared with the use of typical electrical energy by maximising the usage of hydroelectric power, according to studies from Bradken.

This purchase marks the first large-scale investment project in South America in the independent business undertaken in the Americas by the Hitachi Construction Machinery Group since March 2022. In the future, the group will consider using the Peru foundry targeted for investment at this time as a depot for storing Hitachi Construction Machinery mining parts and plans to leverage it as a South American mining market base for the Hitachi Construction Machinery Group.

FAM ship loader keeps copper ore moving at Anglo American Quellaveco

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FAM, a member of the BEUMER Group, is helping Anglo American keep copper ore moving continuously at the Quellaveco mine in Peru, with a closed-loop ship loading system.

One of the world’s largest and best-known deposits with estimated reserves of 1,100 Mt of copper ore, Quellaveco is located near the port city of Ilo – just under 37 km northeast of Moquegua in southern Peru.

Jointly developed by Anglo American and Mitsubishi Corporation, the goal is to mine 1.1 Mt/y of copper. The mine hit commercial production in September last year.

To ship this amount of raw material to target countries, Peru is investing heavily in the country’s infrastructure – for example, in a new port terminal located just under 20 km south of the city of Ilo, BEUMER Group says. The terminal is operated by the energy company, ENGIE. In search of a suitable partner to supply the ship loading system, the project managers selected FAM Minerals & Mining GmbH, a Germany-based manufacturer of conveyor systems. Since the summer of 2022, FAM has been wholly owned by the BEUMER Group, headquartered in Beckum, Germany.

The Quellaveco open-pit mine relies on a high level of automation to protect workers and minimise dust pollution. The copper ore is transported via a conveyor belt to the truck loading station. Sensors signal when a truck arrives for transport. The gate opens automatically and closes again behind the truck. An extraction system is activated to prevent dust from escaping during loading. Once the raw material has been loaded and hermetically sealed on the truck, the gate opens again. Now the truck continues to a tyre wash facility. “The facility is automatically activated via sensors – until the tyres are 100% clean,” Martín Cabrera, Port Project Manager at Anglo American, said.

No dust formation is to be expected when the copper ore is received, stored and shipped. To be on the safe side, however, the plant operator has installed systems that can capture the particles. “These efficient systems work similarly to large vacuum cleaners,” Karen Huaraca, Anglo American’s Environmental Officer, explains. “They filter the dust and then release the clean air into the environment.”

All the information collected by the sensors is sent to the operations centre in real time, enabling the plant to be controlled automatically. This facility is about 90 km from Quellaveco.

The trucks transport the raw materials to the port. There, the copper ore is stored in a warehouse, which has a capacity of more than 80,000 t. A conveyor system conveys the material from the mainland and transfers it to the new SL1320.51/30 ship loader. The loader has a swivelling superstructure. At the end of the boom is the loading device with a belt conveyor. The material slides down a telescopic tube into the cargo hold. This means there are no major environmental emissions during loading. The telescopic tube can be swivelled hydraulically to reach every corner of the cargo hold. The ship loader has a conveying capacity of around 1,320 t/h.

FAM successfully commissioned the system at the end of 2022. The supplier also handled the installation of all the mechanical components, as well as the electrical and control engineering, project planning, production, transportation and consulting.

FAM Project Leader, Alexander Kammerer, said: “This project was challenging in many ways. We had to deal with both high seismic loads and COVID-19 pandemic delays. But thanks to the support of our colleagues from FAM América Latina Maquinarias Limitada in Chile, we succeeded in implementing the project within the given parameters.”

Sakatti-FutureSmart Mining

Anglo American highlights next FutureSmart Mining advances at Woodsmith, Sakatti

Automation, Base metals, Energy minerals, Environmental, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Anglo American has provided its latest sustainability performance update, highlighting a number of technological advancements the company is looking to take at its in-development Woodsmith polyhalite mine in the UK and its exploration asset, Sakatti, in Finland.

Anglo American says it has an integrated approach to sustainability in project development, helping secure its ability to deliver responsible long-term growth in future-enabling metals and minerals.

The company is moving towards its goal of carbon neutral operations by 2040, evolving its pathways as it progresses, learns and as technologies develop.

At the end of 2022, its Scope 1 and 2 emissions were 21% below the peak levels of 2019 – a significant reduction that, Anglo American says, reflects its transition to 100% renewable electricity supply across its South America operations, with Australia to follow in 2025.

In southern Africa, it is working in partnership with EDF Renewables to build a 3-5 GW renewable energy ecosystem of wind and solar generation capacity, designed to tackle its largest remaining source of Scope 2 emissions and support energy reliability and grid resilience while catalysing broad socio-economic opportunities.

While Scope 3 emissions reduction is largely dependent on the decarbonisation of Anglo American’s value chains and the steel industry, in particular, it is progressing towards its ambition to halve these emissions by 2040.

Tom McCulley, CEO of Anglo American’s Crop Nutrients business, provided several references to Quellaveco, Anglo American’s most technologically-advanced mine that uses automation, a remote operations centre and high levels of digitalisation, when looking at its FutureSmart Mining™ plans at Woodsmith, a 5 Mt/y operation that could ramp up to 13 Mt/y.

McCulley, who also led development of Quellaveco, said Woodsmith will be developed as a benchmark for sustainable mining. This includes plans for the mine to be a low carbon, low water and low waste operation, with no tailings generation and with a minimum impact design.

“We hope this can show a way of how mining can be done in the future,” McCulley said of this approach at Woodsmith.

When it comes to Sakatti, Alison Atkinson, Projects & Development Director, said the development could end up being “our next greenfield project”.

The project is a rich multi-metal deposit with not only copper, nickel and cobalt resources, but also platinum, palladium, gold and silver.

“High concentrations of metal combined with consistency of the mineralisation between the boreholes make Sakatti a unique deposit,” Anglo American says of the project. Its resources are estimated to be sufficient for mining operations to last more than 20 years.

Atkinson said Sakatti is being designed as the next generation of FutureSmart Mining, building on what it has learned from Quellaveco and Woodsmith, particularly when it comes to ensuring there is minimal surface footprint and “using technology and innovations to deliver even better sustainability outcomes”.

She added: “Sakatti is set to be a remotely operated, low carbon-underground mine with an electric mining fleet using technology and mining methods that will create zero waste and enable high degrees of water recycling, contributing to a sustainable supply of critical minerals.”

The company also sees the potential to use sorting technologies for coarse particle rejection and material recovery opportunities.

Eriez Magnetic Mill Liners boost safety, energy efficiency and durability at Nexa Resources mine

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

A new report from Eriez® reveals how a set of Magnetic Mill Liners (MML) are significantly improving safety standards, energy efficiency and operational longevity at a Nexa Resources operation in Peru.

The MML is a wear-resistant steel-encased magnet that combines the best qualities of steel and magnetic liners, according to Eriez.

The report highlights the superiority of MMLs over conventional liners by describing the numerous benefits these advanced liners offer. Each MML is composed of individual sections that are much lighter than traditional liners, facilitating safer and easier installation procedures, Eriez says. Weighing only 20-40 kg per section, the MML eliminates the requirement for specialised cranes within the mill, streamlining operations and enhancing safety protocols. Nexa even credits the MML installation with contributing to the company’s achievement of a major Peruvian safety award.

There are considerable environmental advantages associated with the implementation of MMLs, according to Eriez. Heavier steel liners require significant fuel consumption for transportation and material handling while lightweight MMLs can be installed by hand. Additionally, Nexa reports a significant reduction in noise levels with the MML, creating a more favorable work environment overall.

The case study also highlights the energy-efficient aspects of MMLs. In traditional ball mills, small ball chips do not contribute to the grinding process, leading to wasted energy. However, MMLs effectively eliminate the presence of small ball chips, resulting in energy savings of up to 11% during the grinding process, according to Eriez.

The exceptional durability of MMLs is another standout feature discussed in the report. Unlike conventional liners that necessitate frequent replacement, the Eriez MML has garnered a track record of success through many installations in diverse mining operations worldwide, including iron ore, copper, nickel and gold mines, as well as other non-ferrous mines. These installations provide evidence that MMLs outlast rubber or metallic liners by two to three times, Eriez states.

Hudbay secures renewable energy supply for Constancia with ENGIE agreement

Mine operation news, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , ,

Hudbay Minerals Inc says it has signed a new 10-year power purchase agreement with ENGIE Energía Perú for access to a 100% renewable energy supply to Hudbay’s Constancia operations in Peru.

Following the end of the current power supply agreement in Peru, energy will be supplied by ENGIE Energía Perú starting on January 1, 2026, with a 10-year term. The new agreement ensures a consistent and guaranteed supply of renewable energy sufficient for Hudbay’s Constancia operation, the company says.

Hudbay said: “The new contract provides improved flexibility in power supply levels and lower contracted costs as compared to the existing power supply contract. The contract functions on a consumption basis, ensuring the company’s costs are variable based on actual usage, with no minimum spend or penalty for usage below the contracted rate.”

In alignment with Hudbay’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction initiatives, the new contract includes the granting of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to Hudbay as an assurance of the supply of renewable energy dedicated to Constancia’s electricity consumption. These RECs will be applied to Hudbay’s energy consumption to enable the company to have a 100% carbon-neutral energy supply at its Constancia operations, it said. As a result of the application of these RECs, total Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions company-wide at Hudbay’s current operations are expected to decline by 40% during the life of the contract, positioning the company well to achieve its 2030 climate change target of a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions.

Peter Kukielski, Hudbay’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Last December, Hudbay committed to reducing its 2030 GHG emissions by 50% and achieving net zero by 2050. The signing of this 10-year power purchase agreement marks a major milestone for achieving Hudbay’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. We are proud of this achievement as it places Hudbay firmly in reach of achieving a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and on track for net zero by 2050. Additionally, Hudbay’s low carbon footprint production will continue to produce the metals needed for the global transition to a low-carbon future.”

Hexagon’s Mining newly refurbished Lima facility re-opens

Automation, Communications in mining, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, , ,

Hexagon’s Mining division has announced the grand reopening of its Lima office, following several months of renovations to modernise the facility.

The office at Centro Empresarial Polo Hunt, Av. La Encalada 1388, Oficinas 501 – 502. Santiago de Surco, Lima, Perú, was reopened on March 3, 2023.

The facility has been completely modernised to provide a comfortable and productive workspace for employees and clients. The renovations included a complete overhaul of the interior design, an expanded monitoring centre and a newly created hardware maintenance and repair space.

“Our goal was to create a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, and we believe we have achieved this with the new design,” Jorge Garrido, General Manager – Andean Region of Hexagon’s Mining division, said.

Local clients and business partners were invited to join the office for a special open house event on March 3 with the opportunity to tour the new facility, meet with team members and hear technology presentations.

“This reopening marks a new chapter for our business in Peru and we are excited to continue serving our clients from our newly renovated office,” Garrido said. “We believe this investment will have a positive impact on our work environment, productivity and overall satisfaction of our employees and clients.”

Robit wins ‘groundbreaking’ DTH drilling contract at Shougang Hierro Perú

Explosives and blasting, Mine operation news, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , ,

Shougang Hierro Perú has recently added Robit drilling consumables to its drilling arsenal, following a string of tests comparing down-the-hole (DTH) tools, the Finland-based company says.

A large share of the drilling and earthmoving operations at Shougang Hierro Perú is conducted by Cosapi Mineria, a subsidiary of Cosapi S.A., one of Peru’s biggest construction and engineering companies and the company that Robit had to impress.

An open-pit operation typically makes extensive use of DTH tools for pre-split and buffer drilling. That’s why Shougang Hierro Perú, an iron ore miner, was an attractive target for Robit SAC to approach with its offering.

José Luis Cisneros, General Manager of Robit SAC, said: “The iron deposit at Shougang Hierro Perú consists of very hard and abrasive materials. You can find competent soils with compressive strengths of 250 to 300 MPa. We contacted Cosapi Mineria and carried out the first test in early 2020 with 7-in (178 mm) bits and a D65 hammer. Since then, we have been working ever more closely with Cosapi, providing them with material innovations to increase performance.”

He added: “In recent months we have been working together with Cosapi in a testing process of the main DTH providers in the market. Thanks to the constant monitoring by our Assistance Engineer, Kevin Salas, and the development of the right products through our DTH Sales Manager, Martín Rodríguez, we have been able to generate new ways of improving the operation and proposing drilling targets with higher standards.”

The open pit operation requires a lot of double bench pre-splitting, performed with D45 HD hammers and 5-in bits, ballistic buttons and a convex face. The bits have obtained an average duration of 1,400 m, and an average speed of 32 m/h.

Recently, Cosapi signed an extension contract for its operations in two of the open pits at Shougang Hierro Perú. Impressed by the tests conducted with Robit, it granted a consignment agreement, trusting Robit with 60% of the consumption of drilling tools over the competition, Robit says.

Cisneros said: “This is the first contract of consumption for DTH tools in Latin America where we will provide assistance and stock for the client’s operation, including technical service, maintenance of hammers and management of drill bits. We hope to show Cosapi Mineria and the market that Robit SAC has the necessary resources to keep exceeding the expectations of our strategic partners.”

Bradken expands mining wear solutions offering and Americas presence with Linings buy

Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Bradken has confirmed its growth aspirations in the mining wear solutions space with the acquisition of Linings, a Peru-based leader in composite mill liners.

Bradken says its expansion into the manufacturing of rubber composite mill liners and other products confirms its focus on serving the mining sector with innovative wear solutions and the importance of South America to Bradken.

“Over our 100-year history, Bradken’s customer focus has always shaped our innovation and growth,” Bradken CEO, Sean Winstone, said. “This acquisition is a perfect example of us listening to our mining customers and seeing immense value in broadening our range of solutions to fuel our growth.

He added: “We are proud to lead the market in steel mill liners and, as mining operations develop, so will we. It’s great to expand our product offering into rubber composites and leverage the expertise and innovation of the Linings team to continue solving the challenges our customers face.”

Bradken, a subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, began as an Australian foundry organisation and has grown to be a global entity focused on the mining sector and backed by an extensive manufacturing capability. Outside of wear solutions for mineral processing, mining fixed plant and mobile plant applications, Bradken delivers engineered bespoke castings for a range of industries in North America and supports the Australian sugar industry. This is the first manufacturing facility Bradken will have in South America.

Linings CEO, Manuel Marquez, said: “Joining Bradken is an excellent opportunity to combine the innovative composite products we have developed over the past 11 years with the depth of Bradken’s centenary of foundry experience, innovation and customer focus.

“This will allow us to have world-class tools and systems to provide our customers with outstanding pre- and post-sales service, as well as continuing to strengthen our supplier partnerships.”

Rio’s Nuton venture eyes up leaching opportunities at Regulus’ AntaKori project

Base metals, Environmental, Metallurgy, Mineral project development, Mining services, Mining techniques, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

Regulus Resources Inc has announced a $15 million non-brokered private placement by Nuton, which will see the Rio Tinto Venture take an approximate 16.5% interest in the company and jointly undertake copper sulphide leach testing using Nuton’s copper sulphide leach technologies with samples from the AntaKori project in Peru.

The Nuton™ technologies, Rio says, have the potential to process arsenic-bearing copper sulphides with less impact on the environment and water resources than traditional concentrator processing.

Regulus has granted exclusivity to Nuton in the area of novel, patented or trade secret leaching technologies, for a period of one year after the delivery of metallurgical samples from AntaKori to Nuton for testing.

Rio, through its Nuton venture, has tabled a solution to treat primary copper sulphides such as chalcopyrite. At its centre is a portfolio of proprietary copper leach related technologies and capability that, Nuton says, offer the potential to economically unlock known low-grade copper sulphide resources, copper bearing waste and tailings, and achieve higher copper recoveries on oxide and transitional material. This allows for a significantly increased copper production outcome, according to the company.

Regulus Resources has outlined a 250 Mt at 0.48% Cu, 0.29 g/t Au and 7.5 g/t Ag indicated resource at AntaKori, in addition to a 267 Mt at 0.41% Cu, 0.26 g/t Au and 7.8 g/t Ag inferred resource.

John Black, Chief Executive Officer of Regulus, said: “The investment by Rio Tinto, one of the largest miners in the world, is another strong endorsement for the AntaKori project. Through Nuton, Rio Tinto has developed sulphide leach processing technologies that could allow for the processing of high arsenic ores without the need for additional on-site treatment or paying heavy penalties to a smelter. Utilising the Nuton sulphide leach technologies could truly be a gamechanger for the AntaKori deposit. The private placement will significantly bolster our financial position and enhance our ability to optimise the value of the existing resources in the project area.”

Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive, Copper, Bold Baatar, added: “This agreement will allow us to evaluate the potential to commercially deploy Rio Tinto’s innovative Nuton technologies for copper leaching at Regulus’ AntaKori project. Our Nuton technologies have the capacity to increase copper production for Rio Tinto and our partners, with a lower carbon footprint and leading environmental performance. Unlocking value from high-arsenic copper sulphides is a particularly exciting prospect for Nuton.”