Energy and Mines Issue 57

Three stories in this issue 1. Powering Through Capital Constraints: Mine Decarbonisation in Australia 2. Hydrocarbons-Off Hybrid Power Solutions 3. Advanced control systems for Hybrid Power 4. Fuel Additives for Net Zero Mining Support

MAGAZINE I ISSUE 57

AUSTRALIAN MINE DECARBONISATION: POWERING THROUGH CAPITAL CONSTRAINTS

Pil b a r a W A

I MAGE C OU RTESY LIEB H E R R

RECOGNISING INNOVATION IN MINING AND ENERGY

DAVID GRIFFIN 5B

THOMAS NANN ALLEGRO

NEIL FOSTER DE GREY MINING

CHRIS CARR IGO

BRIAN BOITANO LIEBERR

SIOBHAN CRIBB CONNECT ZERO

AUSTRALIAN MINE DECARBONISATION: POWERING THROUGH CAPITAL CONSTRAINTS Commodity price fluctuations and capital constraints may be temporarily slowing down decarbonisation progress for Australian mines, but policy and technology developments are paving the way for a flying restart in the coming years.

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A ustralian mining companies are coming out of a challenging year, with revenue down 10% on average for the top 50 operators in the country, and margins dropping from 50% to 34% due to lower commodity prices across most minerals. While analysts maintain their positive outlook for the sector, and especially for critical minerals, reduced cashflow is making investment decisions more difficult – particularly sustainability investments, which tend to offer lower short-term returns. “Currently, mines are finding it hard to secure the necessary capital needed for decarbonisation. Electric fleets require significant investment in batteries and electrical distribution infrastructure, which are capital intensive, presenting a real challenge,” says Siobhan Cribb, Founder of decarbonisation consultancy Connect Zero. Even when the business case can be proven, external circumstances can lead to the cancellation of decarbonisation projects. Case in point: in 2024, IGO published a white paper based on a pre-feasibility study for the full electrification of its Cosmos nickel mine, which found that electric fleets would be “competitive with diesel vehicles” on a net present cost basis. But just a few months later, the mine was put under care and maintenance. Chris Carr, IGO’s Head of Technical Services, explains what happened to Energy and Mines: “We thought that Cosmos would be a 10,15-year mine, and we were going to electrify that underground and on the surface. Unfortunately, the rapid changes in the nickel market combined with some technical challenges with the mine meant we had to close the mine pending a review of our options.” GREEN PREMIUMS ARE STILL FAR FROM A REALITY Tightened market conditions are making sustainability initiatives more difficult to justify – especially because decarbonised minerals are still a long way from yielding a ‘green premium’. “You’ve seen the Australian nickel industry, for instance, suffer massively in competition with production out of Indonesia, which is certainly not green nickel as such. So does meeting a higher sustainability standard for Australian mining produce

I M AG E C O U RTE S Y D E GR EY MINING

a premium? At present, I doubt it,” states Neil Foster, Chief Sustainability & Risk Officer at De Grey Mining.

He notes that environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities remain front of mind for the sector, which already has to comply with a range of standards, the Safeguard Mechanism, and are now mandated to report on their sustainability impacts: “You cannot get an approval for a mine if you haven’t turned your mind to what the decarbonisation pathway looks like.” But financial imperatives are simply stronger. In this context, miners are focusing on the ‘low- hanging fruit’ of decarbonisation – namely lower-emissions power supply, but even there, Foster suggests miners must plan for future fleet electrification: “Do you want to go with a short contract whereby you’ll look to switch to a new supplier when you seek electric vehicles, or do you opt for a longer- term contract whereby you can have a supplier who will invest in a longer-term relationship to seek to start bringing that electrification with you”. He believes that “the maturity of the cost curves associated with battery technology, trolley assist and the like will accelerate quicker than most people, including ourselves, predict”. IMPROVING THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ELECTRIFICATION The business case for electrified fleets is already close to parity with diesel-powered vehicles, particularly for underground mines. IGO’s pre-feasibility study is evidence of that, even though Carr warns that “every case is individual” and depends on mine depth, refrigeration needs, etc.

ELECTRIC FLEETS TO DELIVER UP TO 30% OPERATING COST REDUCTION Brian Boitano, Executive General Manager, Sales, Marketing, Training and Solutions for Mining at Liebherr Australia, explains how his company and Fortescue managed to make the business case for such an ambitious transition viable. “It’s important to note that for any industry, when you’re in the early stages of this kind of development, the economics are always upside down: the marginal cost of production of early units and operating are significantly higher than for conventional equipment. “As it concerns ourselves and Fortescue, we will be offering a total cost of ownership product that is at parity with and below the cost over time of that of a conventional internal combustion engine-driven diesel machine,” he says. While the operating cost will remain high for a period of time, Liebherr expects it to decline over time – without any government subsidies – driven by the

In his mind, the game changer will be ultra-fast charging, an emerging technology allowing electric mining vehicles to be recharged in a matter of minutes instead of hours, which will eliminate much of the limitations in EV decline trucking. “I think that is where we’ll find success. So you could pull into a bay, recharge your battery in five minutes and then keep going.” Ultra-fast charging technology is being trialled by suppliers including Switch Technologies, as well as miners themselves, in collaboration with their OEMs. One such collaboration is that of Fortescue and Liebherr, who jointly unveiled a new 6 MW fast charger that can charge a haul truck’s 1,900 kWh battery in less than thirty minutes last October. The partnership also involves the delivery of 55 electric excavators, more than 350 large trucks, including diesel-powered trucks to be repowered with batteries and battery-electric trucks and around 60 battery- electric dozers to Fortescue’s Pilbara mine sites – all open pit iron ore operations – by 2030.

I M A G E C O U R T E S Y A L L E G R O E N ERGY

ensure businesses have access to renewable power at a competitive cost, which is critical to support the future growth of the Pilbara and of the State,” notes Cribb at Connect Zero. The Western Australian government is also exploring a similar initiative to develop shared infrastructure for renewable power generation, battery storage, and desalination assets in the Northern Gold Fields mining epicentre. Before wrapping up its activities, the Electric Mine Consortium backed this project, which could include the creation of a microgrid between three large mine sites and two renewable energy generation hubs to connect more mine sites to Western Australia’s south- west power grid. “The hubs have the potential to form a private network stretching over 700 km from inland Western Australia (Kalgoorlie) all the way to coastal regional centres like Geraldton,” the consortium noted last September. For Carr at IGO, this type of collaboration is a “game changer”: “Now, if I’m looking at putting in an islanded power station, and I’ve got 30 years of life in those wind generator towers, when my mine’s finished in 10 years, I can sell that power into the grid. It means now I can take the unit rate of amortizing the capital over its full life, not over a third,” he says, adding that this would be a great opportunity for the government to “step in and underwrite a transmission line”. ENERGY STORAGE AND ENGAGEMENT WITH TRADITIONAL OWNERS This acceleration of renewable power for Australian mines is likely to drive two significant operational and governance changes. First, it will support the commercialisation of long- duration energy storage such as flow batteries. “At the moment, with our current renewable penetration, shorter ratio storage makes perfect sense commercially. But as we increase the renewable penetration above 75%, it won’t work anymore, and we will need long duration storage so that the lights don’t go out at night,” explains Thomas Nann, CEO of flow battery firm Allegro Energy. While lithium-ion batteries currently have the economic advantage as a mature technology enjoying an economy of scale, flow batteries are already more

cost-effective for energy storage duration of more than eight hours. Allegro is working to push this down to around two hours: the company is about to start its first commercial pilot with Australian utility Origin Energy, and is benefiting from the support of government incentives like the Battery Breakthrough Initiative, which will allocate A$523 million to domestic battery manufacturers, helping to de-risk projects. The other shift resulting from miners’ focus on decarbonised energy is deeper engagement with traditional owners. “Land access plays a vital role in renewable energy projects due to their large spatial footprint requirements when compared to other forms of power generation. Therefore, it’s essential to establish strong, respectful relationships with traditional landowners and communities,” explains Cribb. This means miners are now going beyond basic consultations and engaging Indigenous peoples across many aspects of a mine’s operational life. “There are a number of very successful traditional owner enterprises and companies working with mining companies, particularly in rehabilitation, in environmental management, and I can only see that growing and it being more successful,” says Foster at De Grey. The more authentic the collaboration with traditional owners becomes, the more deeply sustainability considerations will be embedded into mining operations. So while it may seem like decarbonisation is less of a business priority in a challenging economic climate, there are undeniable positive shifts happening in the Australian mining sector – shifts that could herald the new era of sustainable mining.

I MA G E COU R T E S Y I G O

lower cost of renewable energy (which Fortescue will use to power its equipment) compared to diesel, as well as lower maintenance costs. This expectation was confirmed by the now disbanded Electric Mine Consortium in its final report, which found that electric mines could achieve a 10-30% overall reduction in operating costs, including up to 50% energy cost reduction, 20% maintenance cost reduction, and 30% ventilation cost reduction. FROM LOW-HANGING FRUIT TO GAME CHANGER With the largest cost savings coming from energy, it’s clear that the electrification business case only works if equipment is powered with renewable energy – and this is exactly where miners’ focus on the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of decarbonisation becomes an investment in long-term ambition. The business case for renewables is now clear: “If you’ve got 10 to 15 years of mine life, you can put in solar, wind, and up to four hours battery storage, and I think you’d get up to 90% renewable penetration,” says Carr at IGO. That is in addition to the safety and environmental cases.

Even mines with shorter lives can adopt renewables thanks to new solutions such as redeployable solar panels. David Griffin, CEO of 5B, explains: “Fluctuating commodity prices create uncertainty over mine life. Renewable energy infrastructure may have a design life that significantly exceeds mine life. 5B’s prefabricated solar array, the ‘Maverick’ addresses this concern through reduced capex and being redeployable. Our off-grid customers will often factor in the ability to simply redeploy the system when considering project economics utilising the Maverick’s 30-year design life.” And when it comes to renewable power, Australian miners and policymakers are now thinking bigger than ever before: coming together to create a regional grid in the Pilbara. The Pilbara Energy Transition Plan aims to facilitate the development of common use transmission infrastructure connecting off-grid mines and renewable power projects in the region. “The benefits of an integrated approach include distributing the capital investment across multiple users and beneficiaries, delivering system optimisation through commonality in infrastructure design and providing joint representation to lobby government on regulatory changes that may be required. This will also

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TROPICANA. IMAGE COURTESY PACIFIC ENERGY

MATT DUXBURY SENIOR COMMERCIAL MANAGER PACIFIC ENERGY

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Off-grid hybrid power for mines is now an economically viable, tried and tested technology. But as decarbonisation goals push miners to seek ever greater renewable penetration, new challenges can arise. Matt Duxbury, Senior Commercial Manager at Pacific Energy, shares the keys to a successful hydrocarbons-off operation in this Energy and Mines interview. KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL HYDROCARBONS- OFF HYBRID POWER SOLUTION

ENERGY AND MINES: What are the latest advances in off-grid hybrid power for mines? MATT DUXBURY: As we move beyond modest levels of renewable energy penetration, one of the key challenges is dealing with ‘hydrocarbons-off’ operation and satisfying the customer’s requirements regarding fault contribution and system stability in the absence of synchronous generation. We’ve known for some time how to do this, and we back it up with tight alignment with our in-house power systems analysis team. We believe the next incremental shift will be the application of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for energy shifting. The use of BESS for stabilising hybrid power systems is already well understood; the application of BESS for energy shifting will become more economical as the price of energy storage continues to fall. We are already delivering projects that use substantial amounts of energy shifting BESS and this trend will continue. E&M: What’s the most economically viable and technically feasible energy mix on remote Australian mines at the moment?

MD: The most economically viable solution for a remote mine will depend on a range of factors, including the type and cost of fuel, the available contract term and the quality of the available renewable energy resources (sun and wind). That said, it is not a stretch to say that if you are running on diesel or high-cost gas, renewable energy will lower your cost of power. In terms of technical feasibility, the technologies of solar, wind and BESS are mature and proven, but what distinguishes a successful project is how well they are integrated. Beyond the basic economics, miners are well aware that they need to manage their emissions, including whether they are exposed to costs via the Safeguard Mechanism. Renewable energy provides a means of avoiding those costs, and that needs to be factored into the economic analysis. E&M: What challenges are Australian miners facing as they ramp up the percentage of renewables in their hybrid power systems? MD: As mentioned earlier, the move towards hydrocarbons-off operation introduces challenges around effective protection system operation as well

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as power system stability. None of this need be a surprise, as the power system, including the miner’s plant, can be modelled ahead of time and to ensure the appropriate equipment is selected. E&M: What are some of the challenges and lessons learned you can share from Pacific Energy’s project with AngloGold Ashanti at the Tropicana gold mine? MD: One of the key challenges we face on complex projects like Tropicana is the lack of ‘off the shelf’, whole-of-system controllers for hydrocarbons-off- enabled systems. Building a solution with the available technology remains a challenge, and the complexity of integrating controllers that meet the dynamic needs of the project requires specialised expertise. For each project, we need to tailor control systems that can differentiate between all renewable energy (RE) and thermal sources, select the appropriate blend of power for various operating scenarios, and maintain system stability, all while maximising RE utilisation. Finding the right balance can be a process of trial and error. Fortunately, we have some of Australia’s most experienced control systems designers in-house, and they ensure we deliver the capabilities we have promised to our clients.

mining environment. This is a significant achievement. Our modelling and technical expertise ensure that we are able to achieve full hydrocarbons-off during operations and maintain complete protection grading for clients. E&M: What are the benefits of choosing a turnkey solution provider for remote hybrid power, and what type of mining company is this commercial model most suitable for? MD: For a modern remote hybrid power system to work effectively, each of the sub-systems must operate successfully in concert with each other. For example, the BESS must respond as expected to any perturbations in renewable energy output, and the thermal plant must fill in the gaps on an increasingly intermittent basis. Our strong recommendation is that those interfaces are best managed by a single experienced supplier who is responsible for integrating the entire solution. Hybrid networks are significantly more complex than traditional diesel or gas power stations, so clients benefit immensely from a single team that understands the precise nuances of their system and how to avoid complications. A hybrid power system is the ideal solution for a miner who has a project with sufficient mine life and understands their load profile.

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At Tropicana, we’ve also demonstrated that hydrocarbons-off and fault current/grading

requirements can be met in real-world situations with higher demand loads than previously achieved in WA’s

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ENERGY AND MINES: What are some of the challenges miners face when installing hybrid renewable power plants? DANIEL WATSON: Mining operations present a unique set of challenges when integrating hybrid renewable power plants. One of the primary issues is site remoteness, which complicates logistics, infrastructure development, and support & maintenance. Transporting and installing renewable energy assets such as solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems in remote locations adds significant costs and complexity. Battery selections will depend on the access road conditions and the choice of vendors will depend on who is available when needed. Another challenge is the variability and intermittency of renewable energy sources. Mines operate 24/7 and require a highly reliable energy supply, but solar and wind generation are subject to weather fluctuations. Ensuring stability requires advanced forecasting, energy storage, and intelligent control systems. Additionally, the existing power infrastructure at mine sites is often designed for traditional diesel or gas generation. Integrating renewables necessitates upgrading or modifying electrical networks, sometimes leading to costly retrofits. Some miners must also navigate regulatory and permitting challenges, particularly around land use, environmental impact assessments, and compliance with national grid codes. Lastly, financing remains a barrier. While renewables

offer long-term cost savings, the upfront capital investment can be significant, and miners need financial models that align with their operational and investment horizons. This will have an impact on the choice of equipment, extracting the maximum value is important for smart investments, but this needs to be balanced with availability. E&M: What kind of energy efficiency and other gains can advanced control systems bring to renewable hybrid power plants and how? DW: Advanced control systems significantly enhance the efficiency and performance of hybrid renewable power plants by optimizing energy dispatch, reducing fuel consumption, and stabilizing power quality. They unlock multiple value streams and provide a flexible base that can ensure continuous mining operations while also prioritizing renewables. A properly designed and implemented system also enables fully autonomous controls, which with renewables has much lower risk than hydrocarbon-based generation. By using real-time data analytics and predictive algorithms, these systems dynamically balance renewable generation, storage, and conventional power sources. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels, minimizes curtailment of renewable energy, and extends the lifespan of most assets. Another major advantage is improved power stability. Renewable energy fluctuations can cause frequency and voltage instability, but advanced high-speed

BELLEVUE GOLD. IMAGE COURTESY ZENITH ENERGY

DANIEL WATSON AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS INNOVATOR YOKOGAWA

Integrating renewable energy sources and batteries into remote hybrid power plants brings variability and intermittency challenges – but the right advanced control systems can optimize reliability and cost savings for mines, explains Daniel Watson, Automation Solutions Innovator at Yokogawa. HOW ADVANCED CONTROL SYSTEMS CAN IMPROVE RELIABILITY IN HYBRID PLANTS

Engagement with stakeholders is also crucial. Successful hybrid projects require close collaboration between miners, technology providers, hardware suppliers and more. Clear communication helps align expectations, streamline approvals, and facilitate smooth integration into mining operations. Additionally, resource availability is a key aspect. Highly skilled renewable engineers are in high demand globally, the nature of mining sites means that often suppliers need to be ready to mobilize (and demobilize) very quickly to perform commissioning and other services, meaning vendors need a good degree of flexibility. This is where larger local based businesses, like Yokogawa, have been able to respond as there are sufficient engineers available and sufficient volume of diverse work to offer customers this flexibility. Mining schedules differ largely from energy generation in this space, in mining the focus and priority is on the mineral side of the business and power is a requirement to achieve this. E&M: What kind of upskilling is necessary for miners when they integrate renewable power and advanced control systems? DW: The transition to hybrid power systems requires upskilling across multiple levels. Operators and maintenance personnel need training in renewable energy technologies, battery management, and advanced control systems. Familiarity with digital tools, remote monitoring platforms, and predictive maintenance techniques is also essential. Maintenance activities are less mechanically based, and more electrical with the inspection and maintenance of inverters, batteries and other power electronics. Engineering teams must develop expertise in microgrid design, grid integration, and energy management strategies. Understanding the interplay between different power sources and how to optimize them using control systems is crucial for maximizing efficiency and reliability. Most mining grids are small with low inertia increasing the complexity. At the leadership level, decision-makers should be educated on the financial and strategic benefits of renewables, carbon reduction incentives, and the long-term cost savings of hybrid power solutions, and their methods for funding and deployment, whether through independent power producers, power purchase agreements or some other financial

arrangement. Hybrid sites require significantly higher capital investment.

The ideal framework for this upskilling is close working relationships and co-innovative activities between miners, energy providers and the control solution vendors. It is vital to share the information learned on existing projects and leverage those to improve future projects. The operational life on many of these projects is over a decade, meaning that there is significant scope for minor enhancements to provide significant long term returns.

E&M: Is 100% renewable energy achievable for miners?

DW: While achieving 100% renewable energy for mining operations remains challenging, it is becoming increasingly viable. Mines with strong solar and wind resources, coupled with advanced battery storage and control systems, can already operate primarily on renewables during favorable conditions. We are seeing in Western Australia particularly that the solar and wind profiles perfectly complement each other providing day and night renewable energy confidence. However, achieving full-time renewable operation requires overcoming intermittency challenges. Long-duration energy storage will be key to enabling around-the-clock renewable power. This could be through the next generation of batteries (long duration), pumped hydro, or even emerging technologies like renewable hydrogen. Policy and market structures will play a significant role in accelerating the transition. Carbon pricing, green financing, and supportive grid regulations can help miners justify the investment in 100% renewable solutions. And overseas activities like the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are helping encourage many to go carbon neutral. While some pioneering mines are achieving full renewable operation today, widespread adoption will likely take a lot longer. Advances in energy storage, declining technology costs, and advancing control systems will continue to push the mining industry toward a fully renewable future. We are very excited to be at the forefront of this change and helping our customers, existing and new, throughout this transition to a better future.

BELLEVUE GOLD. IMAGE COURTESY ZENITH ENERGY

DW: Our work with Australian mines has yielded several key lessons in hybrid power system implementation. First, robust system design is essential. Mines need tailored solutions that account for site-specific energy loads, renewable resource availability, and operational constraints. One-size-fits- all approaches often lead to suboptimal performance. Another lesson is the critical role of battery storage. Without sufficient storage capacity and intelligent energy management, integrating high shares of renewables becomes challenging. Effective battery dispatch strategies are necessary to ensure seamless power supply and economic efficiency. The right battery allows for reduced curtailment, optimized thermal generation and maximization of renewable energy resources.

controllers paired with the right assets ensure grid stability by responding instantaneously to load and generation changes. This reduces the risk of outages and equipment damage; it also unlocks the potential of having grid connected systems with islanding capability. Having batteries available in many of these grids provides a much faster response than thermal. Furthermore, integrating AI-driven forecasting models helps mines anticipate energy demand and renewable generation patterns. This enhances scheduling, improves asset utilization, and lowers operational costs. Overall, the right control system transforms a hybrid power plant into a more reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy source. E&M: Can you share some of the lessons learned from your recent work with Australian mines on hybrid power systems?

Decarbonising the mining sector is a capital-intensive process, with new infrastructure and equipment required at every turn. Gérald Baiwir, Head of Environment & Industrial Development at Aderco explains to Energy and Mines how fuel additives can bring immediate and low-cost emissions gains while supporting the transition to alternative fuels. ENERGY AND MINES: How can alternative fuels and additives support mine decarbonisation? GÉRALD BAIWIR: Fuel additives and optimisation solutions can help reduce mining emissions by improving fuel efficiency. For example, Aderco’s additives improve combustion, reducing fuel consumption and lowering carbon emissions. Studies show fuel efficiency gains of around 5.1%, translating into significant CO2 reductions. Each liter of our 100% vegetal-organic, ashless and metal-free V35 additive reduces emissions by 3.3 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (verified by SGS report). Among other contributions, fuel additives improve equipment performance by reducing engine wear and tear, leading to lower maintenance needs and a longer machinery lifespan. This, in turn, indirectly reduces the carbon footprint from manufacturing and repairs. Finally, Aderco’s additives can help integrate alternative fuels, such as biofuels, by optimising their performance and minimising issues relating to inherent characteristics in mining equipment, supporting the shift to lower-carbon energy sources. E&M: Why are biofuels a good alternative fuel for mining applications? GB: Biofuels present a number of advantages for mining applications, compared to electrification, hydrogen or synthetic fuels.

HOW FUEL ADDITIVES CAN SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO NET ZERO MINING

GÉRALD BAIWIR HEAD OF ENVIRONMENT & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ADERCO

Because they work with existing diesel engines and fueling systems, biofuels can avoid the costly infrastructure changes needed for electric vehicles (e.g., charging stations and battery systems). On top of being compatible with existing infrastructure, they also provide a high energy output and long operational ranges, which makes them ideal for heavy-duty mining equipment – unlike electric vehicles that may require frequent recharging or large batteries. If, instead of electrification, miners are thinking about transitioning to hydrogen, they will also need expensive and complex storage and refuelling infrastructure. In contrast, biofuels use existing fuel systems and require no new infrastructure, as well as being a proven, reliable technology. In contrast, hydrogen fuel cells are still in the early stages, especially in mining.

Biofuels even offer benefits compared to synthetic fuels: they are more cost-effective and easier to produce at scale, while synthetic fuels are more expensive and complex. Overall, biofuels offer a practical, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for the mining sector, requiring minimal infrastructure changes, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting energy security without the complexity of other alternatives like electricity or hydrogen. E&M: How can fuel additives be used with biofuels for mining applications? GB: Aderco additives can be used with biofuels in mining applications to enhance fuel performance and protect equipment from common biofuel issues.

For example, our additives help to stabilise biofuels, preventing oxidation, which can lead to harmful deposits and engine damage. This is crucial in mining, where equipment is exposed to extreme conditions. By preventing oxidation, the product also stabilises the acidity levels of biofuels, reducing corrosion and protecting metal components in engines and fuel systems. Aderco additives also help separate water from biofuel, preventing water-related issues like the biofuel degradation. Finally, they inhibit bacterial contamination, preventing bacteria causing sludge buildup and clogging fuel lines, ensuring cleaner, more efficient fuel use. In short, Aderco improves fuel quality and efficiency, reduces maintenance, and extends equipment life in mining operations using biofuels. E&M: What are the benefits of using a vegetal organic surfactant technology? GB: With a vegetal-organic surfactant technology like Aderco, businesses can enjoy enhanced performance

while prioritising environmental responsibility and cost efficiency. These surfactants are made from natural, renewable resources, so they break down easily in the environment, reducing long-term pollution. They are also free from toxic chemicals, heavy metals, or petroleum-based additives, making them safer for ecosystems. These benefits make vegetal-organic surfactant technology an appealing option for industries that rely heavily on fuel-driven operations, such as shipping, transportation, and power generation. Also, the eco-friendliness of the technology means that a vegetal-organic surfactant is eligible to generate voluntary carbon credits. A pilot project using the Verra “Methodology for Improved Efficiency of Fleet Vehicle and Combustion Engines” is currently going through validation and implementation. The project focuses on reducing CO2 emissions in mining vehicles and mobile machinery through fuel additives and monitoring protocols, with the goal of generating voluntary carbon credits.

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