The Las Bambas operation in Apurimac, Peru is a large, long life copper mine. In recent times, the communities located on the road to Las Bambas have gone through significant changes with the upgrade of local infrastructure, including roads.

 

Traffic has increased on these remote roads as production has increased – in a difficult and challenging mountainous region.

 

The road and rail corridor that starts at Las Bambas, passes large mining operations including Antapaccay, Constancia and Cerro Verde on the way to the world’s largest copper concentrate port at Matarani. The road traverses three regions, six provinces, 16 districts and 86 communities.

 

The transportation of Las Bambas copper concentrate

 

Copper concentrate is transported 495km by truck to a train transfer station in Yanahuara district, where it is transported a further 286km by train to the Port of Matarani. The train has capacity for 54 containers, and is 348 metres long. Up to four trains can run per day, and it takes approximately 36 hours for the train to travel from Pillones Station to the Port of Matarani.

 

All containers involved in the transport of copper concentrate are sealed to prevent spillage. Prior to trucks passing, the road is watered to minimise dust. Las Bambas is currently sealing more than 80 km of road with micro-paving, within and around the communities where trucks pass.

 

More than 700 truck drivers and 100 escort drivers are involved and driver and community safety is the first priority. There is a strict no drugs or alcohol policy and regular testing is undertaken. Internal and external cameras in each truck alert fatigued drivers. Bracelets are provided to monitor rest for each driver, and preventive and corrective maintenance programs are regularly carried out. Currently 10% of drivers are from the local area, with a plan in place to grow this to 50% by 2018.

 

Tragically, even with good controls, Felipe Leon Chavez, a driver who was employed through our logistics contractor Transaltisa died in a road accident on Thursday 21 July 2016. Las Bambas is actively implementing initiatives to further reduce fatigue and increase road safety.

 

Community opportunities and impacts

 

Las Bambas has invested more than US$200m to upgrade the roads accessing Las Bambas, improving road access and economic opportunities for the entire region. The increase in traffic and transportation is providing communities with new markets and possibilities. For example, a trip from Challhuahuacho to Arequipa will now take 7 hours less on the improved road.

 

Las Bambas has worked for many years with the surrounding communities on access and road use agreements as well as road upgrades. As expected, improved access brings increased traffic, noise and dust. Watering of the road to reduce dust and investing in further road improvements has occurred to mitigate impacts and seek to address community concerns.

 

The team at Las Bambas is committed to working with local communities and the Peruvian Transport Authorities to find long term, sustainable solutions. A community relations team is based at each community along the road to provide regular communications and support. A joint working group of the Peru Government,  Las Bambas and other regional stakeholders is preparing a proposal to upgrade and pave the road to national highway standards.

 

 

Pictured: Our concentrate is transported by truck and rail to the Port of Matarani in Arequipa, where it is shipped to customers worldwide.