Operating in some of the most challenging environments, Foraco provides specialized drilling services for both the mining and water sectors. Tim Bremner, CEO, emphasizes its global expansion, innovative drilling solutions, and commitment to sustainability.
DOMINANT DRILLING FORCE
“After joining Foraco in 2006, we embarked on an ambitious plan to take the company global.”
From its humble beginnings in the south of France over 60 years ago, Foraco became a dominant force throughout West Africa.
The company is a global leader in drilling services for mining and mineral exploration, as well as a leading provider of water drilling services primarily related to mining activities, with a fleet of 265 drills operating in 22 countries and over 2,000 employees.
Tim Bremner, who began as Senior Vice President of North America and became CEO in 2023, has been an integral part of Foraco’s journey as the company expanded into the main mining regions, including North America, Australia, and key markets in Latin America.
“Combined, they make up 75 percent of the world’s exploration spending,” he continues.
This means more predictable and stable business for Foraco as these regions offer tremendous growth opportunities without the volatility that presents in less stable regions.
It was a conscious decision to move the company in this direction and one that was in the best interests of all stakeholders.
“In parallel, we managed to diversify the range of drilling services offered, including surface and underground core drilling, rotary drilling, reverse circulation (RC), production drilling and blasting, geotechnical services, large diameter coring, and deep directional drilling services,” elaborates Bremner.
Water drilling has been a core Foraco capability almost from the beginning, and the growth in mining services provided a natural opportunity to expand its water well services globally.
INNOVATIVE METHODS
Being able to provide a full suite of services to meet the needs of its mining customers is a tremendous advantage for Foraco.
The company also employs innovative methods, including both drilling techniques and equipment, that differentiate it from most of the competition.
“We have developed an in-house deep directional drilling capability that allows us to drill holes directly to our customers’ specified targets,” informs Bremner.
“This capability means we don’t have to rely on third-party services, resulting in more efficient and cost-effective drilling.”
In terms of equipment, Foraco has been a leader for years, with data acquisition at the drill rig beginning over two decades ago.
This was leading-edge technology at the time and has since evolved into a reliable, robust system.
In 2015, the company built its first remotely-controlled RC drill for a customer in Australia – another capability it developed in-house.
Today, many of Foraco’s drills are operated remotely, with crews working in climate-controlled environments.
“This is particularly invaluable in harsh conditions; whether it’s 45 degrees Celsius (°C) in the Australian outback or -45°C darkness in Northern Canada, our operators can work in a safe and comfortable setting,” Bremner assures.
As a leader in water services related to mining, Foraco also has a proprietary rig that is state-of-the-art in terms of technology and sustainability.
The Next Generation BF 800 (NGBF 800) is a powerful, versatile small footprint drilling system with two rigs now fully operational in Australia.
“We received the Australian Drilling Industry Association (ADIA) 2024 Safety Innovation of the Year award for this rig, which is recognized as an industry-leading innovation by our customers and employees,” acclaims Bremner.
IN-HOUSE SOLUTIONS
Foraco works closely with its providers to deliver best-in-class drill rigs for specific projects depending on the needs of its customers and is often required to provide innovative in-house solutions.
For example, the company manufactures its own low-impact drills in Brazil that meet local requirements for minimally invasive drilling operations.
Mature business relationships are maintained with virtually all main suppliers in the industry, with a focus on providing the best products for the services required.
“Our sourcing decisions for in-hole tooling are based on a combination of value and timely delivery,” Bremner tells us.
One of Foraco’s key priorities is to continue innovating in terms of equipment and technology.
This includes evaluating opportunities for fully automated functions and exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to make a significant impact on its operations.
“In addition, we will continue to grow our business with Tier 1 customers in the main mining regions where we currently operate, emphasizing copper and gold as our primary commodities,” outlines Bremner.
PROACTIVE APPROACH
Sustainability is also critically important to Foraco, and today, it goes beyond working safely.
The company aims to reduce its impact on the environment where possible and has developed a long-term environmental policy focused on air quality, energy and water conservation, and minimizing waste.
Sound environmental protection principles have been integrated into the company’s operations, with quantitative key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure and maximize improvements and efficiencies.
In each country, Foraco ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulatory controls, and site-specific environmental policies.
In addition, they collaborate with clients in implementing best practice approaches to protect natural resources.
Currently, the company is focused on two main sources of environmental impact that are particularly relevant to its activity – greenhouse gases and water use.
Bremner’s commitment to sustainability is the starting point, ensuring every individual knows that the entire organization, from the leadership team to every employee, is equally dedicated to this objective.
“We take a proactive approach rather than a punitive one, which empowers our team to do what is right,” he emphasizes.
“This ensures we protect our employees, the environment, local and Indigenous communities, and our customers’ right to operate.”
Whilst Foraco has all the necessary systems and procedures that form its sustainability management system, these tools alone cannot achieve the company’s objectives.
“A sound culture, embedded throughout the entire organization, is essential for our success,” Bremner closes.
FORACO PARTNER
