Key Factors in Water Management Services

The year 2012 marked a historic record in mining exploration investment in Mexico. According to Camimex, the country attracted over US$1,165 billion in mineral resource exploration during that year. This positioned Mexico as the world’s fourth most important exploration destination, after Canada, Australia, and the US. This position is the result of a steady double digit growth in exploration investment since 2002, when the country attracted US$120 million. The exploration boom in Mexico resulted in international players successfully opening subsidiaries in the country. This was the case for Farwest Well Drilling & Pump Company, which expanded into Mexico in 2011, under the name of Farco Perforaciónes y Bombeo. “The mining community in Mexico has a need for water development and de-watering services, so expanding our operations to the country was a natural fit for Farco,” states Clark Vaught, founder of both companies. With only two years in the country, Farco has established itself as a service provider that is completely independent from its parent company in the US, and is on its way to becoming the biggest water development contractor in Northern Mexico. “Farco considers itself a Mexican company. Our employees are Mexican, with supervision from both countries. By being an American contractor, we bring with us the safety requirements, training and ability to reduce the risk factor in our operations. To challenge our Mexican workforce, we also employ Mexican nationals who have been trained in America,” states Vaught.

Farco performs a series of water management services in Mexico, such as hydrogeology, well drilling and supervision, de-watering, well test pumping and development. The company also supplies industrial pumps, electric motors, gear drives and a variety of accessories. These products and services help mining companies to access and manage water resources in every stage of their operation, from de- watering while performing exploration drilling to water well abandonment while performing mine remediation. “We use some of the same equipment in the US and in Mexico, and we are providing the same services in both countries,” says Vaught. “Mexico’s environmental activity seems to be going the right way. Quality control is directly tied to efficiency, which in turn is tied to the return on capital investment of mining operations. When the right balance is struck and maintained, there is a much better picture. By combining expertise, knowledge and the youth of many of our employees, we will take advantage of the many opportunities that the mining market offers,” he asserts.