What are your expectations for this 12th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2021)?

CORE TECH has been actively participating and contributing to the development of mining exploration in Peru for 24 years.

About proEXPLO 2021, we are looking forward to present our new innovative solutions for the mining exploration sector, which despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic continues to seek efficiencies in its operations. In this sense, CORE TECH will have the opportunity to show these new tools, products and technology, which will generate value to our customers, improving their operations safely.

What investments has CORE TECH planned for the years 2021-2022?

CORE TECH continues to invest in human capital and new technologies for our clients. For this year, we are introducing the mechanical Directional Drilling system, which unlike other systems has multiple operational advantages, in addition to more competitive and environmentally friendly prices. This system allows mining companies to save meters of drilling to reach the targets.

On the other hand, we are introducing the online scanning system for drill holes, which will help in the detection of geological faults, detection of old caves, among others. We also continue to innovate and improve our line of drilling fluids and diamond bits, with a complete portfolio of the highest quality products. And this involves the performance of approved technical tests, through the execution, monitoring, control and technical validation of our products by our field engineers.

Finally, we will present new representative brands in diamond drilling equipment, such as the Italian brand Massenza with large water well drilling rigs and multipurpose equipment, the Dutch brand Eijkelkamp with sonic drilling rigs and CPT. Also, we continue to develop and improve our Semi-Automated Core Cutting Equipment, exporting to several countries in America and Europe.

What technologies has CORE TECH been applying in its work?

CORE TECH has been offering its clients the latest in technology for mining drilling, such as instrumentation for measuring hole deviation; we work with online solutions in the cloud, which allows reliability, speed and consolidation of data for the geology area.

We are also offering directional drilling solutions to perform directional hole deviation and be able to make multiple branches from a single platform (without the need to request permits) in order to cover a larger explored area, reduce costs in the length drilled and reach the mineralized zones. In addition, we are offering an online scanner for drill holes to detect faults, old caves, among others, which reduces uncertainty, prevents risks and reduces costs.

Finally, we offer Sonic drill rigs for exploration, which allows recovering samples in their entirety, in inaccessible areas such as tailings, dumps, very humid areas such as swamps, jungle, etc.

Why is prospecting and exploration important for mining?

Prospecting and mining exploration are the most important and also the riskiest activities, since without them the development and growth of Peruvian mining would not be possible.

Unfortunately, due to various factors, such as over-regulation, excessive controls, cost increases, among others, mining exploration investment in our country has been falling steadily and has dropped from 25th to 34th place in the mining competitiveness ranking. Eventually, current and potential new investors may lose interest in investing in our country.

CORE TECH, always committed to the development of mining exploration, has always been a pioneer in the search for innovations and new technology that allows the mining exploration activity to be more efficient and productive. Also, we market products of the highest quality to achieve greater progress for our customers.

How would you describe Peruvian geology and geologists?

Peruvian geology is highly complex and challenging, which forces us to use products, tools and equipment of the highest quality and reliability in order to achieve the objectives set, both in efficiency, productivity and effectiveness. This is where the "bad savings" often arise and distract from the main core.

The Peruvian geologist is a very complete professional, who has the possibility of training in the different branches of his profession by working in the field and facing the different geological and logistical difficulties that cannot be found in other parts of the world.

At the same time, they are highly valued internationally and with the proper experience and comprehensive academic training they can be successful at a global level.

What has been the main impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CORE TECH's performance?

Just like all companies in Peru, with the pandemic, CORE TECH saw its economic activity decrease by around 15%. Fortunately, the mining sector was in the first phase of economic reactivation last year, managing to recover what was lost during almost the whole year in the last quarter.

We expect that in 2021, with the good price of minerals and the exploration investment plans of mining companies, we will be able to carry out the amount of exploration that could not be done in 2020. We believe that this 2021, will be a good year for mining exploration, drilling more meters than in 2019.

On the other hand, CORE TECH has been diversifying its presence also in mining production with production steels (Top Hammer, Rotary and DTH) as well as mining production tools and equipment, transferring the experience and prestige already gained in mining exploration to mining production contractors and mining companies.