⎪ Fuels Industry Imbizo 2026 ⎪
they are not ready to handle the pressure to reduce CO 2 emissions 3 . The reality is that they face a complex range of issues, and no single site or business can master the challenges alone. Collaboration will be critical to future mining success. Miners must work closely with expert partners to deliver the solutions and support needed to improve operational efficiency. Similarly, it will take sector-wide cooperation to scale up and accelerate the decarbonisation of mining.
emissions and total cost of ownership (TCO). Lubricants have a much greater impact on overall site performance than their cost alone would suggest. However, 60% of miners agree that senior stakeholders do not give lubricant selection and management the importance it deserves 3 .
lost due to friction. This improves fuel efficiency, which reduces emissions. Adopting carbon- compensated and biodegradable lubricants can help further reduce emissions. Moreover, working with the right lubrication partner, mines can build a digital ecosystem to gather performance data from critical equip- ment and subsystems. Using this data — both historical and real-time — miners can improve the performance and reliability of equipment across the whole operation — while also tackling the growing skills gap in the industry through collaboration with trusted partners. https://www.shell.co.za/
A scientific approach to equipment lubri - cation and a data-driven lubrication regime, together with high-performing lubricants tailored to the task and the application, can extend equipment life, improve productivity and minimise unplanned downtime. Additionally, the better the lubrication regime, the less energy is Article Sources 1. S&P Global. “Looming Copper Supply Shortfalls Present a Challenge to Achieving Net-Zero 2050 Goals, S&P Global Study Finds.” 2022. 2. Mining Weekly. “Mining vital in net-zero transition.” 2023. 3. ‘Breaking New Ground: Shaping a Successful Future for Mining’: A Shell white paper based on a survey of 561 decision-makers in the mining industry across 7 markets conducted in July 2022. The survey was commissioned by Shell Lubricants Solutions and conducted by research firm Edelman Intelligence. 4. EY. “Top 10 business risks and opportunities for mining and metals in 2023.” 2022. 5. [Frost & Sullivan. “Key Trends and Impact on the Metals & Mining Sector.” 2023. 6. Shell. “Reducing the Total Cost of Ownership in Mining & Quarrying.” N.D. 7. WEF. “Digital solutions can reduce global emissions by up to 20%. Here’s how.” 2022. 8. Mining Digital. “Top 10 technologies and strategies in mining.” 2022. 9. Charge On Innovation Challenge. “Winning Technology Innovators Announced.” 2022. 10. IBM. “Energy giant Shell eyes net-zero emissions.” 2022.
Driving operational efficiencies through effective maintenance
The whitepaper demonstrates a clear path forward for mines to break new ground and achieve their future objectives. The common element of efficiency will be vital in helping miners to understand that they do not have to compromise their commercial or decarbonisa- tion ambitions. An efficient mine can be both productive and sustainable. To control rising costs and deliver greater sustainability, miners must operate more ef- ficiently with the equipment they have today. Equipment health is critical in driving productiv- ity and sustainability. And while the cost of con- sumables such as lubricants might be rising, they can still deliver savings when used effectively, while also having the potential to reduce both
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July-August 2026 • MechChem Africa ¦ 7
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