The increasing pressure to manage input costs means mine managers must establish effective control and measurement of fuel costs, particularly in opencast operations, where fuel can account for up to 30% of overall operating costs, says fuel dispenser supplier Gilbarco AFS business developer Graeme Trautmann.

For many African countries, mineral exploration and production form considerable elements of their economies and these elements remain crucial to economic growth and employment prospects in Africa, he notes, adding that large opencast copper and cobalt mines, like those in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in other areas in Africa, haul masses of ore across the surface and consume millions of litres of diesel each month to fuel the large fleets of vehicles, plants and machinery required to operate a mine successfully and safely.

“With the increasing costs of fuel, it is crucial to the profitable operation of a mine that there is vigilant, reliable and timely monitoring of the fuel and other lubricants used daily,” highlights Trautmann.

As a result of this, Gilbarco AFS aims to not only reduce fuel management costs but also manage fuel and the related equipment and technical services in a way that enables mines to run at high efficiency levels with fewer interruptions.

The company’s system solutions rely on the latest hardware and software technology, along with the support of extensive on-site resources in the form of skilled and experienced technicians, as well as site and facility managers.

With sites receiving up to 50 deliveries of fuel each day, it is important to record and verify the delivery when it is made. Trautmann points out that a company can verify every fuel delivery by installing the equipment that contains gauging and electronic metering technology, supplied by Gilbarco AFS, at its sites.

“After installing our equipment, we compare the metered delivery and the temperature-compensated delivery recorded by the tank gauge. “With the delivery tanker’s meter reading, we ensure that the ordered quantity is in fact, supplied in full,” he highlights.

Gilbarco AFS offers a full facilities management package that includes the provision of on-site automation and infrastructure, such as filtration, customised self-bunded tanks, lighting and generators. The company also offers permanent on-site support staff, with 24/7 services to provide supervision, as well as maintenance and technical assistance.