As underground mines increase in depth, the provision of adequate ventilation becomes more expensive. The cost of adding new systems or extending existing infrastructure can be prohibitive for some operators.
But the cost dilemma may be a thing of the past thanks to the “friendlier financial option” being offered by specialist energy solutions company Aggreko. With a $1.6 billion inventory of power generators, temperature control and compressed air equipment spread across 100 service centres in 26 countries, the company is building a strong profile in the rental equipment business. The company says it is giving mining clients an alternative to investing vast amounts of cash into depleting assets.
The company successfully trialled the ventilation-system rental option in Australia four years ago when it installed a 3MW bulk air cooling system at the Moranbah North mine in the Bowen Basin, owned by Anglo Coal. The coal miner recently extended its agreement with Aggreko to include the provision of rental equipment and expertise to a further three of its Queensland mines.
Since the Moranbah trial, the rental concept has been adopted by nine other mining operations across the country, according to Aggreko Australia national sales and marketing manager George Whyte.
“In domestic and residential circles, renting has long been an accepted alternative when the need is great but your money is tight, and the situation is no different in mining. What is different, however, is the quality and durability of our equipment, which has been designed to be lifted and transported thousand of times during its life and is able to work in extreme conditions – the same generator for example, might be working in 45C heat in the Saudi Arabian desert one week and in -30C on a Russian oil rig the next,” he said.
“We offer companies an opportunity to rent expensive equipment instead of buying it outright, as part of a complete turnkey solution – we like to see it as helping them increase their profits and safeguard their operations by creating opportunities, solving problems and reducing risk. It really is a new option to the marketplace and can be very valuable for mines with a short life expectancy or where companies require some form of temperature control: for example, to prove a feasibility without breaking the bank.”
Aggreko’s service extends to “renting” technical personnel for the duration of each contract – an idea clients have embraced in light of the current labour shortages.
“One of the biggest challenges for mines today is to get technical resources on-site to support the purchase of new equipment, and if they are able to locate the right expertise, it is usually at a considerable cost,” Whyte said. “Our rental agreements include the upfront engineering, care and maintenance of the equipment and the provision of qualified crews, so clients do not need to worry about employing additional intelligence for a limited period. We focus on providing the entire package, not just one or two aspects of it, so our clients can focus on what they do best.”
Each tailor-made mining solution takes an average four months from first phone call to final installation and is managed by engineering sales manager Alan Loudon, who joined the company in May, bringing with him 25 years of experience servicing the mining industry in Australia and South Africa.
“South Africa’s underground mines are characterised by their depth – 2000-4000m is not uncommon – and the heat they retain by nature of being closer to the earth’s core. Refrigeration has been part of the industry there for a long time and they (mining companies) have more experience dealing with heat issues,” Whyte said.
“Australia’s mines by comparison are only just starting to explore greater depths and the change in conditions that come with that, and we are confident Alan will be able to bring some valuable information and innovations to the discussion table which will ultimately help us better service the market.”
Australia’s Mining Monthly – August edition