The company would be ranked among the top companies in the south of Peru, replacing oil by one of the cleanest fuels for the environment. Inkabor, leading mining company in South America and one of the most important of the world for its boron products, recently implemented the use of natural gas in its industrial plant of Rio Seco - Arequipa, which will allow a radical reduction of emissions to the environment as a sign of continuous improvement compliance with international quality standards and environmental management.

Until the implementation of the South Peruvian Pipeline, Inkabor will supply its plant through containers of compressed natural gas, for which it has set up a decompression station, complying with the normative and OSINERGMIN regulations, state agency that regulates investment in the energy and mining sectors. With this important investment and installation of new technology, Inkabor achieved to rank among the first companies to adopt the use of compressed natural gas in the south macro region of Peru and takes a step forward in its commitment of continuous improvement according to its policy of environmental management system, supported since 2011 with ISO 14001:2004 Certification.

The project

Since October,2012, Inkabor S.A.C. started the implementation of the Decompression Center of Compressed Natural Gas Project in its Plant of Rio Seco for Boric acid production, in order to make the change of the thermal power generation matrix for operation with compressed natural gas supply of that unit. In this manner, Inkabor replaces the use of residual oil 500 for a much cleaner fuel to the environment, since it allows a radical reduction of emissions, minimizing air pollution and the greenhouse effect. Furthermore, this innovation will allow Inkabor significantly reduce fuel costs and therefore increase competitiveness in the market.

The project was implemented in accordance with the provisions of the regulations approved by Supreme Decree No. 006-2005-EM, and its amendments. In addition, a preliminary study was conducted to ensure compliance with safety standards for natural gas indoor facilities in relation with the technical specifications of materials, design, dimensioning, construction and safety requirements for reliable operation. The project has already been installed and is undergoing testing evaluation and adjustment is expected to be 100%operable with this fuel since early March.

Inkabor has two other production plants, one in Salinas near to 4000 meters above sea level (Arequipa), where could be evaluated the use of natural gas in the future; and the other plant located in Oquendo -Callao, where natural gas has already been used, previously, directly from the pipeline.