Expert Insight 06 | Sustainability Progress in Mining
Can a mine make sustainability progress whilst using diesel? We ask mining expert and former Caterpillar Inc. Vice President Robert Drooglever Fortuyn his views.
Written on: 18th February 2025
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1. How important are sustainability and environmental initiatives in the mining sector?
The mining and metals sector contributes between 4 and 7% of total global GHG emissions. As a result, the mining industry is under pressure from their stakeholders (shareholders, employees, governmental organisations, and others) to demonstrate they are seriously addressing their environmental impact, specifically their CO2 emissions. The CO2 emissions from diesel engines at their mining operations are a key focus area and there is a lot of work going on between OEM’s and mining companies to reduce or eliminate diesel fuel.
2. In your experience within the mining sector, what effects have you seen from poor fuel quality?
In many parts of the world, it is difficult to get good fuel into the engines of the mining or construction equipment. There are many transfer points, from fuel source to the combustion chamber in the engine, where fuel can get contaminated. Contaminated diesel will plug fuel filters and damage engine components. It also causes less effective combustion. All this leads to
downtime, higher maintenance cost and higher fuel cost.
3. Do you believe that technologies aimed at diesel savings still interest mining companies, or is the focus now shifting toward new technologies that replace diesel engines?
To reduce CO2 emissions the mining industry would like significantly to reduce the dependence on diesel fuel. A lot of work was done on how to achieve this. The technological and economical constraints were identified, and many miners build a plan transition away from diesel to other power sources. However, this will take a few decades, and it will not be economical for all mines. The mining companies need additional, more near term, solutions and FuelActive can be one of them.
"A few years ago, I was introduced to the FuelActive product. It was immediately clear to me that this product can provide a simple and quick solution to many mining companies as it increases uptime and reduces fuel consumption."
Robert Droogleever Fortuyn - Mining industry expert and former Caterpillar Inc. Vice President, Robert Droogleever Fortuyn
4. What intrigued you about the FuelActive product, and in what ways do you think your experience could benefit FuelActive?
A few years ago, I was introduced to the FuelActive product. It was immediately clear to me that this product can provide a simple and quick solution to many mining companies as it increases uptime and reduces fuel consumption. Low risk and fast payback would make this a “no brainer” to be installed on all mining equipment.
5. Why do you think OEMs have yet to adopt technologies like FuelActive in their factories?
OEM’s have focused mostly on improving fuel filters to clean up diesel. The FuelActive solution provides additional safeguards and
improves fuel efficiency. As the mining industry implements FuelActive more widely, OEM’s will notice and potentially offer this as a factory installed option.
