Full commitment in emergency times

Heavy rains caused by so-called “Fenomeno del Nino Costero” left Peru in an emergency state: 143 lives were lost, 18 people missing and total loss is estimated over 4000 million dollars. The regions in the North of the country were the most affected by this unusual rain seasonal: more than 260 thousands affected houses, 822 useless bridges and more than 2000 damaged schools are part of the horrible consequences after the natural disasters. The solidarity and the social commitment registered in Atlas Copco’s heart offered a prompt response before the desperate situation that Peru was living. Colonel Jorge Uribe, Chief of the Army Heritage, and Stephen Cartwright, Power Technique General Manager for the Latin America region, through a signed agreement on March 28th where it was agreed the delivery of 3 water pumps that allow relieving the horrible flooding in Piura, a city in the north. The coordinated actions between the Peruvian Army and Portable Energy Area in Atlas Copco, allowed the pumps get to the affected areas on the same day after signed the agreement.

At the end of March, Piura endured rains of more than 24 hours in a row that caused the overflow of the river and the result of the flooding in the city. Whole urbanizations, shopping centers, hospitals and even Plaza de Armas remained very flooded and hundreds of people were evacuated. At the end of April, in this department was recorded: 39841 affected people, 4183 uninhabitable houses and the 70 % of the road system with serious damages. According to the signed agreement between Atlas Copco and the Peruvian Army, the centrifugal pumps WEDA 70L 460V, ETP 50B and PAS 4 DDT-W220 were borrowed for 60 calendar days. Hidrostal, our pump distributor in the north of Peru, was very helpful in the organization for draining tasks in the flooded areas. Thanks to the contacts of Hidrostal, it was possible made the coordination with Entidad Prestadora de Servicios de Saneamiento Grau (EPS Grau), a company responsible for production and supply of potable water in this department, and the pumps started operating and start to give solution to the flood that endanger the public health of this department.

Finally, the loan time of the pumps was extended to 180 days of tireless work to complete the restoration work in the north of Peru. On October 16th, this effort was recognized by the Peruvian Government, through the Ministry of Labor, at an awards ceremony where peruvian companies which had an immediate reaction to the consequences of the ‘Fenonemo del Niño’. Since this award, Atlas Copco obtains the distinctive denomination of S.O.S Company in Peru. A recognition that reaffirms our commitment to sustainable productivity.