Fuel is the biggest consumable for any operation, and a critical lifeline that can bring production to a screeching halt when not properly managed. With so many moving parts to the equation, managing fuel can be a daunting concept that can feel out of reach for day-to-day operations. Let’s explore some of the roadblocks to efficient processes for managing the control and consumption of fuel. Because fuel is often the most expensive and therefore one of the most critical consumables to a mining operation, it stands to provide a significant impact.
In an ideal world, purpose-built systems designed for efficient monitoring of consumption can improve the way your mine manages fuel across your business. But do such systems for mining and heavy industry exist? Is there a system that is robust enough to handle remote and harsh environments? How about purpose-built software for live reporting, administration and data analysis? Let’s explore what to look for and what can be gained through effective fuel management — whether it be for delivery, security, inventory or monitoring usage.
Looking for a system that delivers purpose-built fuel management applications for both underground and surface operations is something we’ve spent a lot of time exploring. We’ve found that there are a number of ways a fuel management system can deliver more than just ROI – here are some of the most important facets the Ramjack team considers when sourcing a fuel management system for our customers:
- Delivery Security – identify, validate, and authorise any fuel deliveries, and capture volume
- Dispense security – authenticate equipment and users; limit dispense volumes and locations, prevent overfill
- Vendor or Site Inventory Management – real time snapshots of current inventory levels, consumption history along with customisable alarms
- Accounting and Reporting – Correctly allocating and accounting fuel and oil costs across a large mine site or collection of mines is simplified
- Maintenance Scheduling – automatically capture engine hours to calculate fuel and oil burn rates, as well as schedule maintenance tasks
- Claiming Tax Credits – some federal governments offer significant tax credits for the usage of diesel fuel, representing millions of dollars per year per site
- Environmental Compliance – A fully reconcilable fuel management system streamlines adhering to federal reporting requirements
- Process improvement – Because fuel is one of the largest operational expenses, identifying opportunities for efficiency is critical, as well as measuring results with raw data
A comprehensive fuel and oil management system gives mines around-the-clock access, and most importantly peace of mind, knowing that you’re in control of every element of the process, from fuel utilisation, to deliveries, transfers, and storage — all with access to a central web application. Sourcing ruggedized field measurement and control hardware is critical, in that it captures and transmits transaction and storage data, ensuring that fuel and oils are properly dispensed. With web browser access to fuel data in real-time, users can monitor storage levels, transactions, records, alarms and errors. The most robust reporting and data capabilities will greatly enhance your communications by allowing shared reporting to 3rd parties, as well as customisable access permissions that can be shared with fuel vendor suppliers so they can assist in inventory management.
At Ramjack we do more than just recommend streamlining technologies – we spend our time getting to understand the landscape of your unique mining operations so that we can recommend the solutions that can have the most impact. We look forward to continuing to help drive the mines of the future through our chronic curiosity, innovation, and collaboration with our mining customers.
