Water is becoming a commodity, which means we must implement water management and remediation technologies. We recirculate the muds to recover as much water as possible and reuse it in the drilling process. Intercore has implemented centrifuge machines that separate solids from water and extract additives for recycling. Additives are more environmentally friendly and we ensure that our drilling techniques are on point to prevent percolation and loss of water. The government is increasingly tightening the noose on environmental regulations and we must uphold all standards and make sure impact is limited. We have man portable rigs that are easy to maneuver and transport, and this means the impact to surroundings is limited when transporting the machinery.

In the industrial segment, mining takes first place in the consumption of energy. Grupo México and Siemens collaborated in the development of a cogeneration plant in Sonora. This project provided many benefits for our customers, ranging from a steady and safe power supply to cost savings. In that respect, power reliability is crucial in processes of intensive industries like mining since it avoids power shortages and unforeseen stops of production. The need for power continues to rise in the mining industry and most companies are wagering on combined cycle or natural gas due to the fact that it is a high energy intensive industry and these alternatives fit the bill. It will play a bigger role in the future, especially given the structural changes spurred by the Energy Reform.

We recycle water because we are aware that it is a scarce commodity, and we are going one step beyond by redesigining standard pumps for water wells to make them self-sustaining. Many NGOs operate under the belief that value is placed on the number of water wells they drill, and to keep costs down they use cheap pumps. The first thing to fail in a traditional small village well is the pump and while it is not a complex part, it can be difficult to obtain. Our clients that wish to build water wells in the communities close to the mines also go through the same learning curve. Communities found in remote locations must travel for kilometers for water. By building water wells we provide a clean water source to the communities and we strengthen the trust and ties between the mining company and the population.

The railroad allows significant energy savings by substituting thousands of trucking units as well as by having a more efficient use of fuel. Transporting freight by train instead of by trucks can reduce greenhouse gases up to 75 percent on average. A train can move a ton of freight for 700km with less than four liters of fuel, and only one intermodal train can carry the freight of 280 trucks. One of Kansas City Southern Mexico’s priorities is avoiding the generation of carbon dioxide emissions, so our environment protection strategy includes several elements like our fleet transformation and the purchase of 12 “green” locomotives, which can save up to 25 percent of fuel per month. They can also reduce use of lubricating oil by up to 50 percent and 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions can be eliminated.