Atlas Copco HiLight V5+ Light Towers Illuminate High-Altitude Peruvian Mine
Published: 11/1, 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 in 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.
Iscaycruz, owned by Empresa Minera Los Quenuales S.A (Glencore Group), is a polymetallic deposit with four mines in production. Due to its altitude of 15,400-16,400 ft (4,700-5,000 m), Iscaycruz is in one of the most challenging areas of Peru.
“Survival in this area is very hard, both for people and equipment,” says says Julio Tello, JRC Equipment Manager. “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.”
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. Atlas Copco’s HiLight V5+ light tower has been designed for the most demanding conditions. Featuring a HardHat® canopy as standard, which ensures maximum protection of internal parts. Its design includes directional optic lenses that maximise practical light coverage while minimising dark spots. A single light tower has four LED floodlights each projecting 350W of light and the HiLight H5+ can illuminate an area of up to 53,800 ft2 (5,000 m2), providing an average brightness of 20 lux. The LED lamps offer users higher durability without any deterioration in lux level and have a life expectancy of more than 50,000 hours. Additionally, the HiLight H5+ light tower offers low fuel consumption, offering a run time between refuelling of 260 hours and consumes less than 0.13 gallons (0.5 litres) of fuel per hour.
“Atlas Copco’s HiLight V5+ light tower is 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 show 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.”