How has 2023 been for Construplan?

After a 2022 filled with B2B meetings, brand positioning, company procedure regionalization, and the establishment of our Peruvian branch in March, we successfully secured Construplan's first project in Peru with Nexa Resources in January 2023. This project initially had an eight-month duration but has been extended to 2024 due to additional awarded works and disruptions from the local community. 

Can you provide details about your activities with Nexa Resources?

We secured a contract for the construction of a waste dump and a departmental variant at Nexa’s mining unit El Porvenir. Additionally, in the mining unit Atacocha we obtained a contract for a 1.5 km crest channel. These two mining units in Cerro de Pasco are part of Nexa’s integration plan and are approximately 35 minutes apart. 

In terms of the timeline, we initiated the project in January 2023, mobilized our team in February, and began construction in March. Community disruptions occurred during the first week of construction, lasting seven days. In July and August, we faced two more community disruptions. Through collaboration with the community and the client and leveraging the expertise of our project-hired individuals, we have successfully addressed social challenges and are currently working harmoniously.

How many collaborators are involved in the project?

Due to engineering and client infrastructure needs, we have grown to 850 people. Managing this team from our relatively new Peruvian branch is a challenge, but we are handling it efficiently with support from Mexico. We anticipate further team growth for upcoming projects with different clients.

How do you view the current socio-political situation in Peru?

We experienced challenges in 2021, including the political change with Pedro Castillo and the subsequent coup in Peru, and we also face uncertainty regarding the 2026 elections, but we maintain our long-term commitment to Peru and its mining industry. 

Can you tell us more about Construplan’s relationship with local communities?

Approximately 60% of our workforce is from local communities, encompassing both skilled and unskilled labor. This provides us with the opportunity to develop these individuals in various aspects, including project-specific tasks, soft skills, and safety. Safety is particularly important, as community members may not be accustomed to incorporating safety awareness into their work.

Can you elaborate on Construplan's safety approach?

Construplan already has a deeply ingrained safety culture. While safety legislation in Mexico may not be as stringent as in Peru, our safety and environmental management system was nearly ready for operation in Peru when we regionalized processes and analyzed Peruvian legislation. We only had to make minor adjustments to specific processes. 

We have trained personnel and receive regular visits from our Mexican headquarters in SSOMA. Our company’s leadership, both at the central office and the project site, includes Peruvian individuals with extensive experience in different mining projects. This provides us with strong control over our safety management, and we are certified with ISO 14001 and 45001 standards.

What role does technology play in your projects?

Technology is crucial for achieving ideal control in project management. We have a system called PATOOS, comprised of administrative, technical, and operational procedures focused on safety. The purpose of these procedures is to identify and manage key operational risks at the start of each project. We mitigate these risks through specific training. We have introduced this practice in Peru, supported by a specialized training school. All of this is underpinned by an ERP system called SIGOPLAN, developed in-house, enabling online safety control. We even offer clients access to the system to review the main accident rates in the projects.

What can we expect from Construplan in the remaining months of 2024?

We continue with our long-term commitment to Peru, actively seeking bids for the limited greenfield projects in the country. We have participated in tenders with prominent companies such as Buenaventura, Minsur, Shougang, and Chinalco. For 2024, our goal is to maximize participation in mining tenders. We aim to secure new projects and diversify our client base and, in the long run, obtain an open-pit mining project. We want the name Construplan to be recognized and respected in Peru for our expertise in open-pit mining and construction, its safety and environmental control programs, the quality of our work and our commitment to social development, all this backed by over 43 years of successful projects.