Publication: Global Business Reports
Issue: May 10, 2024

As Knight Piésold marks a century globally and three decades in Peru, could you highlight key milestones shaping the company's distinguished legacy?

Our ongoing objectives include disseminating world-leading services in tailings dams design and management, where we have solidified our position as industry leaders. Additionally, Knight Piésold excels in water resource management and dam break analysis, contributing to drafting those CDA guidelines that have achieved global reference status. From Peru, we aspire to expand our operations to other countries, taking our expertise and commitment to new frontiers. 

How did Knight Piésold' perform during 2023?

In 2023, we fortified our technical expertise, achieving consistent growth across diverse projects. We provided design services within our engineering domain in office and field settings. Noteworthy accomplishments in office settings encompassed excelling in tailings management and EoR services. We maintained adherence to stringent international standards, surpassing multiple global panels and peer reviews. 

Could you share some projects and technologies Knight Piésold introduced in Peru?

On the engineering front, we worked on key projects like San Rafael, Marcobre, and Yanacocha, where we implemented cutting-edge technologies and standards to achieve client objectives. For instance, we conducted geotechnical research in Yanacocha and evaluated a tailings deposit within a leach pad. Introducing the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) equipment to gather detailed information on mineral characteristics was a groundbreaking initiative, marking a first in the country. This technology played a pivotal role throughout 2023 in informing our designs. The NMR equipment, in correlation with other techniques, enabled us to assess moisture and mineral saturation at depth, a critical aspect of stability analysis. Understanding the saturation of the structure was essential for accurately modeling operational feasibility.

How does Knight Piésold assess potential renewable energy uses for mining projects?

While the mining industry is moving towards integrating renewable energy into its lifecycle, widespread adoption is not yet evident. Knight Piésold, especially in its Canadian office, stands out for its focus on renewable energy. The company conducts assessments of potential renewable energy uses for mining projects, offering recommendations ranging from established technologies to proposals for emerging technologies like Pumped Storage. Such solutions are crucial in addressing the multifaceted issue of climate change, necessitating measures across all aspects of mining activity.

How do you adapt water management strategies to the unique climatic conditions in diverse environments in Peru?

Our experience spans diverse environments in Peru, each with unique climatic conditions. For example, in northern projects, it is crucial to factor in the impact of the El Niño phenomenon. This phenomenon, unique to this region, leads to excess water, a factor that all mining projects must incorporate into their planning. Addressing the El Niño effects should be a priority from the project's outset. Instead of reactive measures, like determining the location of the main mine infrastructure, it is advisable to adopt preventive solutions. In other projects, ike in the southern deserts of Peru, we focus on conserving and optimally utilizing available water, prioritizing reuse to contribute to sustainability.

Could you elaborate on the specific actions and models developed by Knight Piésold in response to the growing emphasis on air quality?

The initial challenge lies in recognizing that the environmental aspect extends beyond permit acquisition, involving the development of environmental engineering—a central focus at Knight Piésold.

In the Peruvian context, perceptions regarding the use of surface water and groundwater have always been critical, and recently, there has been a growing emphasis on issues related to air quality. This concern is gaining significance in the national industry, where Knight Piésold is leading its evaluation using rigorous modeling. In both cases, a risk assessment is required, as well as the implementation of actions with the development of corresponding models and designs. Air quality is intrinsically linked to dust, generated, for example, in mining operations during pit exploitation, blasting, construction, and earthworks which could impact surrounding communities. Evaluating air quality in the early stages, even before project development, is crucial to prevent air quality pollution. This can be done using computational modeling, where results can suggest adjustments to construction planning necessary to minimize environmental impacts. In ongoing operations, continuous adjustments can be made to calibrate changes and reduce potential impacts on air quality.