6 minute read
In the right place to obtain and export minerals
Produced by
Jassen Pintado
Written by
Mateo Rafael Tablado
Interviewee
Víctor Flórez, Mining General Manager for Carbomas
Carbomas operates in strategic locations which facilitate the exportation of its coke mineral products, besides optimizing its production by investing on equipment and developing its workforce.
Carbomas’ business consists in the exploration, extraction and commercialization of minerals. Such activities are developed through its brands Carbomas and Metalmax.
The company was created by a business group formed in 2015 in the Department of North Santander,
Colombia.
“As a business group, we are currently known as the largest producer of ultra-low phosphorus coke in Colombia”, pointed out
Víctor Flórez Mejía, Carbomas
Mining National Manager.
EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE MINING SECTOR
Flórez graduated in Mining and Metallurgy Engineering from the National University of Colombia, and afterwards he earned a Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration from the University of Santander (also in Colombia).
His experience in the mining sector has expanded on for more than 13 years, having worked in companies such as Cerro Matoso and Prodeco, moving up from operational positions to management before being hired by Carbomas in August 2020.
“During these years I have worked in production and strategic planning positions”. Flórez said.
WIDE EXPERIENCE THROUGH DIFFERENT OPERATIONS
Carbomas develops its operation in different departments in Colombia, producing mainly thermal coal, coking coal and copper concentrates: • Department of Córdoba:
Carbomas has a thermal coal open pit mine, besides currently operating two thermal coal exploration projects, expecting to bring over 11,000 BTU (British Thermal Units) to the international coal market, with a sulfur concentration below 1%. • Department of North Santander: Three underground mining operations and four exploration projects. Coking coal is obtained out of the working operations, along with the extraction of ultra-low phosphorus coke, used in ferroalloys. • Department of Cesar: Copper exploration projects in its exploration
stage, operations are expected to beguin in the Q4 2021 to export copper concentrate from the ports of Santa Marta (Department of Magdalena) and Barranquilla (Department of Atlantic). • Department of La Guajira: Copper project recently assigned by the Colombian government. The deposit is in the La Jagua del Pilar Municipality and its exploration would take place in Q4 2021. This strategic reserve was given through the National Mining Agency for its exploration and exploitation, and was assigned by public tender.
“We were fortunate to be the first company benefited with the assignment of this block”, the executive said.
THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR WORKS TO BE PERFORMED
Exploration projects Carbomas is in charge of, which are several at a national level, have led the company to take the decision of acquiring both underground and surface drilling machinery, which could result in cost reduction of approximately 6% per drilled ft in these projects.
Carbomas relies on equipment such as scanners for underground mining, among its advanced technological solutions, which can give information about the tunnels with great accuracy for applications in topography processes, mining planning and geotechnics.
In managerial matters, the company is implementing an ERP system which will optimize its processes. This system, along with the acquisition of
We are the largest producer of ultra-low phosphorus coke in Colombia
- Víctor Flórez Mejía, National Mining Manager at Carbomas
exploration machinery equipped with the most advanced technology, will result a greater efficiency in cost.
“Nowadays, plenty of technological advances applied to mining have been developed, these allow us to be more cost-efficient and increase our productivity”, Flórez declared.
STRATEGIC SUPPLIERS AND PARTNERS
Carbomas’ strategic stockholders and partners are highly valued regarding their contribution to the company’s operations, and this same importance is given to its suppliers, an integral and highly valued part of its productive chain.
Companies such as Boart Longyear, Caterpillar, Cino Mining, Dassault Systèmes and Komatsu, among others, provide Carbomas’ operations with value.
TOWARDS GREATER SECURITY AMONG THE HUMAN TEAM
Among traits shared by Carbomas’ workers, their energy, the fact of selfimposing high growing goals, as well as the evolution of a culture of security
- Víctor Flórez Mejía, National Mining Manager at Carbomas
and respect for the environment certainly stand out, besides giving value to the communities where the company operates.
Carbomas’ workforce is currently going through a transformation towards a self-care culture in each of its collaborators, thus favoring a more secure and healthier working atmosphere.
REAL BENEFITS FOR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES
The relationships between Carbomas and the communities surrounding its operations are based on mutual benefits, encouraged by the creation of self-sustainable development programs for these settlements.
Among the renowned efforts for this purpose are the alliances created along local governments with the purpose of promoting the growth of the communities where the company has got influence.
The main aspects in which Carbomas has become as an agent for change among these communities
- Víctor Flórez Mejía, National Mining Manager at Carbomas
include agriculture, construction of access roads, education, and jobs generation.
“It is really important for us to bring value to the communities where we work at”, the manager stressed.
PORTFOLIO GROWTH TOWARDS THE FUTURE
Carbomas is setting highly important challenges, which are within reach. Their vision in a few years’ time is to become the mining company with the largest quantity of mineral products in its portfolio in Colombia.
Nowadays, the company makes a place for itself in the products obtained from lines of work such as coke, metallurgic coke, coking coal, thermal coal, copper concentrates and gold.
FOUNDED: 2015
INDUSTRY: Mining
CONTACT:
victor.florez@carbomas.com
TRANSFORMING OPPORTUNITIES
TO TANGIBLE BENEFITS
For more information For more information, click here
A professional firm focused on transforming opportunities to tangible benefits, KFW Consultants has more than 30 years of experience consulting across 4 continents. Specializing in the development of profitability models and operational designs, the firms’ solutions consider industry best practices and leading information systems.
