Hernán Villafuerte, General Manager, shares the history and achievements of MDH
The history of Peruvian mining is deeply intertwined with the history of exploration and MDH has marked a steady path in that terrain for almost six decades. Founded in 1966 by the visionary engineer Guido del Castillo Echegaray, MDH was born with a clear mission: to professionalize mining drilling in Peru, bringing technology, safety and vision to a sector in full transformation. Today, his legacy is more alive than ever, driving a new generation of professionals who understand mining as an ecosystem of precision, efficiency and positive impact.
One of the main drivers of this new stage is Hernán Villafuerte, MDH’s current general manager. A mining engineer from Arequipa, Villafuerte has more than 20 years of experience in the drilling sector, during which he has led highly complex operations in various regions of the country. His technical knowledge of Peruvian geology, together with his strategic vision and leadership, make him the ideal person to lead this new generation of drillers.
‘MDH is much more than a drilling company,’ he says from the company’s Lima headquarters. ‘It is an organization that has been able to evolve with the mining sector, and that today is committed to a different way of doing things: with innovation, agility, and an unwavering commitment to safety and sustainable development.’
Foundation and legacy: a history with Peruvian identity
MDH’s history dates back to 1966, when its founder Guido del Castillo identified the need to provide more technical, reliable and long-term drilling services. At a time when mining was still lacking in local, high-level specialized services, his proposal was revolutionary: to bring the international standard in diamond drilling to Peru.
During the early years, the company operated mainly in exploration projects in the Central Highlands. As the country advanced in the development of its modern mining industry, MDH grew with it.
In 1994, it consolidated a strategic alliance with the Canadian Bradley Group, giving birth to Bradley-MDH. This stage represented a fusion of local experience with international technologies and methodologies, which further professionalized the processes, increased operational safety and strengthened the organizational culture.
‘That partnership was key to our maturity as a company,’ Villafuerte recalls. ‘We incorporated processes, technology and also a new way of looking at the business: oriented toward quality, risk prevention and operational sustainability.’
Constant evolution: 59 years of learning, adapting and leadership
In its nearly six decades of existence, MDH has drilled more than five million meters in projects throughout Peru. From the Andes to tropical and desert areas, the company has demonstrated outstanding technical and logistical capabilities.
Currently, it provides services in the main mining units in the country, working with companies such as Compañia Minera Antapaccay, Ares, Minsur, Nexa Resources, Volcan. Beyond the names, what stands out is the sustained trust that these clients place in MDH, reflected in obtaining long-term contracts—a great recent strategic achievement.
‘A long-term contract is not earned with low prices,’ Villafuerte clarifies. ‘It is earned with performance, with consistent compliance and with a relationship of trust based on data, reportability, security and sustained results.’ In line with this vision, MDH has succeeded in obtaining and maintaining ISO 9001 (Quality management), ISO 14001 (Environmental management), ISO 45001 (Occupational health and safety) and ISO 37001 (Anti-bribery management systems) certifications, supporting its comprehensive commitment to excellence and ethics.
Services that go beyond the drill
MDH’s portfolio of services has evolved into a comprehensive technical proposal. Although diamond drilling remains the main service, the company also develops reverse circulation (RC) operations, geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling, installation of piezometers, inclinometers, and carries out tests such as SPT, Lugeon and Lefranc.
In addition, it has developed specialized capabilities in water well drilling, with high-pressure compressor technology and maneuverability. This service has become strategic in projects requiring sustainable water infrastructure in remote areas.
A service that was recently developed is the logging, cutting and sampling of cores, which allows the company to offer a comprehensive range of exploration services.
‘Our vision is to be the client’s technical partner, not just a contractor. We want them to see us as an extension of their geology or geotechnical team. That is the new way to add value,’ explains Villafuerte.
Equipment designed for excellence
MDH operates a fleet of more than 70 drilling rigs, many of them adapted or designed specifically for Peruvian terrain conditions. Among its main units are:
- HTM-2500 with a rod handler for safe rod handling, which is capable of drilling more than 3000 m (9843 ft);
- LF-230, ideal for deep, high-precision drilling;
- STM-1500, especially useful for in-mine drilling, with capacities up to 2000 meters (6562 ft) in NQ;
- Schramm T685WS, used in water wells, with compressors from 1150 cfm to 500 psi.
This investment in first-class equipment is accompanied by a strategy of preventive maintenance, telemetry and continuous improvement.
‘Drilling well is not just about getting to depth, it’s about getting to depth with recovery, without deviation, safely and on schedule. That can only be achieved if the equipment, the technology and the operator are aligned,’ he says.
Flagship cases and innovative solutions
Among MDH’s most important technical achievements is the execution of a diamond drill hole at a depth of over 2500 m (8202 ft), with a more than 95% recovery, without significant deviations and in adverse geological conditions. This technical milestone was possible thanks to a meticulous drilling design, the use of directional tools, and specialized equipment in continuous operation.
In another project, the team executed a geotechnical drilling campaign in an environmentally sensitive area, using clean techniques, biodegradable muds and zero-impact waste management systems.
‘The client chose us because of our technical capacity, but they hired us again because of how we did things. That’s the difference,’ says the general manager.
Social commitment: mining that transforms
Behind every successful operation, there are people. MDH has more than 600 employees in operations and technical support, all of them constantly trained under internal training programs and international standards. The company has implemented labor inclusion programs which promote the participation of women in the field as drillers, assistants and geotechnical technicians.
It also develops a local employability model: it hires unskilled labor from communities near its operations, who are then trained and professionalized. In several operations, up to 100% of the local unskilled labor comes directly from these areas.
‘We don’t just drill into the ground. We also open roads for people. That’s the mining we believe is worth doing,’ says Villafuerte. MDH also collaborates with technical institutions such as TECSUP, promoting the training of young people in careers related to mining and maintenance, encouraging the labor insertion of new generations of technical professionals.
A powerful employer brand
Working at MDH is not just about filling a position: it is about being part of a culture of excellence, safety and continuous improvement. With internal evaluation and promotion processes, as well as a permanent training system and benefits oriented towards the well-being of workers and their families, MDH has built a solid reputation as an employer of reference in the mining services sector.
‘We are committed to the growth of internal talent. There are many cases of people who started as assistants and today they lead crews or projects. That is also part of our essence: to develop people,’ Villafuerte points out.
Open invitation to clients and talent
MDH is ready for the challenges of the future. And it is open to working with new customers looking for efficiency, safety, technology and real social commitment. But it is also welcoming towards new talent who share its passion for doing things right, with pride and responsibility.
‘We want customers to give us the opportunity to show what we can do. And we want the best professionals to see us as their home. Here is a place to grow, to innovate, and to make a mark.’
A new generation with legacy and purpose
MDH’s motto, ‘Drilling into the future with the agility of a new generation’, summarizes its current identity. They are a company with 59 years of history, founded by a visionary like Guido del Castillo. Today they are led by professionals like Hernán Villafuerte, who understand that technical success must be accompanied by responsibility, respect for people and a real contribution to the country.
And so, with every drill hole, MDH continues to write a deep, technical and human history. A history that honors its past, leads the present and drills, with agility, the future.
For more information: Visit mdh.com.pe
