January 14, 2021
JRC, a Peruvian company dedicated to the development and construction of mining projects and infrastructure works for mining, has recently purchased six HiLight V5+ light towers from Atlas Copco. These units have been proven to be the perfect solution for JRC's operations at the Iscaycruz mine (Peru), where the altitude conditions are extreme, ensuring a continuous and efficient operation.
The Peruvian company, with more than 20 years of experience focusing on the integral service of all production processes in underground mines, has experienced sustained growth over the years. For JRC, the success of its operation in the Iscaycruz mine project is of vital importance as it will be the first step to win new projects in open-pit mines.
Working at 5,000 m altitude
Iscaycruz, owned by Empresa Minera Los Quenuales S.A (Glencore Group), is a polymetallic deposit with four mines in production: Limpe, Chupa, Tinyag 1 and Tinyag 2. Due to its altitude of 4,700 to 5,000 meters, Iscaycruz is in one of the most challenging areas of Peru. "The survival in this area is very hard, both for people and equipment: we worked with light towers from another manufacturer for a while and they did not work out. The three-cylinder engines shut down after two hours working and the lamps broke easily", says Julio Tello, JRC Equipment Manager.
The tough working conditions and the lack of having the right light tower for this project led to heavy losses for JRC, due to the impossibility of starting the night shift. To solve this issue, the Peruvian company tested on site a HiLight V5+ light tower from Atlas Copco to ensure this unit was the right equipment for the project. After carrying out the test, JRC purchased six HiLight V5+ light towers to be used at Iscaycruz mine.
Hardhat light tower in the mine
"The acquisition of Atlas Copco's HiLight V5+ light towers with two-cylinder engines changed the whole picture for us. It's a solution that has been radical", says Julio Tello. "Until now, JRC’s expertise has been mainly underground mining projects, however the operations at Iscaycruz is showing that we are the right fit for open-pit operations, that is why we are preparing seven mining projects in Peru and one in Mexico. The HiLight V5+ light towers are helping us to operate this type of project perfectly”.
Nelson Batistucci, Atlas Copco Business Line Manager for the Andean region explains: “In order to deliver the right solution for our customers, we need to understand their needs well. In this case, considering the challenges of working at extreme altitude, as it is common for many of our mining customers in Peru, helped us choose the right light tower for JRC. At Atlas Copco, we are strongly committed to technological innovation and have a highly skilled team to analyse the challenges and provide the best solution for our customers.”
