Francisco Jiménez Country Manager
ORICA BRASIL
"Despite being a cost-sensitive market, Brazilian miners are early adopters of technology because they know it is the key to improving their overall performance."
Can you provide an overview of Orica's operations in Brazil?
Orica is a leading service provider in mining and infrastructure, focused on blasting services and explosives, and has a strong presence in mining chemicals and cutting-edge digital solutions, fully integrated across the mining value chain. Our core remains blasting services and products, but we have invested heavily in digital technology. Recently, we acquired Cyanco, which strengthens our position as a leader in mining chemicals, particularly gold mining. In Brazil, we have operated for over three decades, with over 700 employees spread across three manufacturing units. We are proud of our deep history here and the fact that we represent all of Orica's global business units in Brazil. Additionally, we have a strong ESG strategy and have been a benchmark for diversity in the mining sector here in Brazil, moving from 11% to 25% female representation in our workforce.
Aggregates and construction materials are another key focus for us. The aggregate business is larger in terms of volume than traditional mining in Brazil. It is a massive industry, and it is growing even faster than mining. Can you expand on Orica's digital solutions for the Brazilian market?
Over the last five years, Orica has invests yearly AUD 60 million globally in innovation. We have developed and integrated advanced technologies that help make mining operations more efficient and sustainable. This is particularly important as the mining industry transitions, especially with the increasing focus on energy transition minerals like rare earth elements, lithium, and copper. In Brazil, we are also following these trends closely and adapting our offerings to meet the industry's demands for more sustainable and efficient mining practices. We are seeing a strong trend towards digitalization in mining, and Brazil is no exception. Mining companies here recognize that they need to adopt more advanced technologies to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Despite being a cost-sensitive market, Brazilian miners are early adopters of technology because they know it is the key to improving their overall performance. How does Orica contribute to monitoring and safety in mining and infrastructure?
Our company, GroundProbe, specializes in geological and geophysical monitoring, a critical part of our offering, especially in response to tragic events like the Mariana Dam collapse. GroundProbe provides monitoring solutions that detect minute movements in walls and dams, helping to prevent disasters. We use this technology not only in mining but also in infrastructure projects like hydroelectric dams, tunnels, and any operations near communities or at risk of collapse.
In addition to GroundProbe, Orica focuses on developing technologies that minimize worker and equipment exposure to risks and eliminate direct exposure to hazards, providing the added benefit of making processes safer for personnel, customers and their equipment. This commitment extends to other innovative solutions such as WebGen™, our wireless blasting technology, which further enhances safety and efficiency in operations. Safety is paramount for us, and both GroundProbe and WebGen™ play a significant role in ensuring our clients can operate safely. Many customers in these sectors rely on our solutions to safeguard their operations. What are Orica's main objectives for the coming year?
Looking ahead, we are preparing to support the growth of the Brazilian mining sector. We are moving our headquarters to Belo Horizonte to be closer to our customers, and we are setting up a Center of Innovation there in partnership with Vale. This is a huge step for us. We have signed a technology agreement with them and will have dedicated engineers working to optimize their operations using Orica's advanced technologies. We aim to push the boundaries of what is possible in mining, making it more autonomous and digital. We are also focusing on growing our presence in open-pit mining, which we are not currently leading. Additionally, we are investing in modernizing our manufacturing plants to stay ahead of the curve regarding technology and efficiency.