Moore’s strategies prove Haul Track transforms efficient, sustainable mining operations. (Image source: Rokbak)

In the high-pressure world of mining, quarrying, and construction, fuel efficiency is a make-or-break factor for both profitability and environmental impact.

Garry Moore, a veteran customer support manager at Rokbak, a Scottish manufacturer of articulated dump trucks (ADTs), has spent nearly 20 years refining strategies to optimise heavy equipment performance.

Here, Moore unveils seven expert tips for harnessing Rokbak’s Haul Track telematics system to slash fuel expenses, curb carbon emissions, and boost site productivity.

Here are seven ways to achieve it

1. Keep engines in top shape for fuel savings

A neglected engine burns more fuel and pumps out excess emissions. Haul Track’s real-time diagnostics alert managers to issues like blocked filters or suboptimal fuel systems, enabling quick fixes. By acting on these email notifications, operators ensure ADTs run lean, saving fuel and reducing environmental harm.

2. Spot and fix delays with idling insights

Trucks idling in queues waste fuel and stall progress. Using Haul Track’s GPS and idle-time tracking, managers can identify bottlenecks where ADTs wait for loaders. Moore suggests rebalancing fleet setups—adjusting loader or hauler sizes—to keep operations moving, cutting fuel use and CO₂ output while ramping up efficiency.

3. Maximise loads with precision weighing

Half-empty trucks force extra trips, inflating fuel costs and equipment wear. Rokbak’s On-Board Weigh, synced with Haul Track, provides live load data, empowering operators to fill trucks to capacity every time. This approach boosts output, conserves fuel, and keeps production targets on track.

4. Redesign sites for shorter, smarter routes

Inefficient haul roads and traffic snarls sap fuel economy. Haul Track’s movement tracking, combined with fuel and idle reports, works across all equipment brands to highlight trouble spots. By streamlining routes and easing congestion, managers can trim fuel bills, lower emissions, and extend machine life.

5. Coach operators for smoother driving

Aggressive driving habits, like rapid acceleration or sudden stops, can inflate fuel consumption. Haul Track’s fuel usage comparisons reveal when specific trucks burn more than peers on similar tasks. Moore advocates using these insights for constructive training, helping drivers adopt smoother techniques to save fuel.

6. Protect tyres, save fuel

Underinflated tyres increase drag, forcing engines to work harder and wear out faster. Haul Track’s real-time tyre pressure monitoring catches issues early, allowing quick corrections. Proper inflation optimises fuel use, prolongs tyre durability, and enhances site safety.

7. Drive progress with clear performance goals

Haul Track’s robust data lets managers set fuel efficiency targets and monitor results over time. By analyzing trends and sharing feedback, teams stay motivated to improve. This data-driven approach fosters smarter decisions and a culture of continuous progress.

Moore’s strategies show that Haul Track is more than a data tool. It is a  game-changer for cost-conscious, eco-aware operations. With these seven tactics, site leaders and operators can transform insights into action, driving down costs and emissions while keeping their sites running at peak performance.

Also read: HMD and Rokbak flexible financing solutions making an impact in West Africa

Metso to supply crushers and mills to Perseus Mining’s Nyanzaga gold project in northwest Tanzania. (Image source: Metso)

Sotta Mining Corporation Ltd., an 80%-owned subsidiary of Perseus Mining Limited, has awarded Metso a significant equipment supply contract for the Nyanzaga gold project in northwest Tanzania

The order comprises a Superior MKIII 4265 primary gyratory crusher and two Plus Premier grinding mills, which together will provide 21MW of installed power. Valued at more than EUR 20 million (approx.US$21.5mn), the order was booked in the Minerals segment’s first-quarter intake for 2025.

Matt Cavedon, general manager, project development at Perseus, said, “Perseus is looking forward to the successful deployment of Metso’s state-of-the-art comminution technology, alleviating gearboxes with the benefits of precision control and high efficiency.”

Oskar Gustavson, technology director, Grinding at Metso, added, “The Premier SAG mill and ball mill to be delivered to the Nyanzaga project feature low-speed synchronous motor drives without conventional gearboxes. This makes the mills very reliable and very efficient – a 2% saving in energy consumption when compared to traditional gearbox-driven mills. Both mills are equipped with Metso’s fail-safe Polymer Hydrostatic Shoe Bearing systems, significantly increasing reliability and reducing maintenance costs.”

Metso’s Premier horizontal grinding mills are tailored to specific customer needs, combining cutting-edge technology, process know-how, and design flexibility. Alongside these, the company offers pre-engineered Select mills, advanced mill reline systems, and a broad portfolio of liner solutions, including the innovative Megaliner. Metso also supports customers with inspection programs, Life Cycle Services (LCS) for scheduled maintenance and shutdowns, and a complete range of spare and wear parts. The Superior MKIII gyratory crushers are built to deliver high throughput and minimal downtime, enhancing operational efficiency.

Ivanhoe Mines highlights copper growth, energy resilience, and exploration milestones across Southern Africa. (Image source: Ivanhoe Mines)

Ivanhoe Mines has released its financial results for Q1 2025, along with an update on operations and project development

The announcement was made by president and CEO Marna Cloete and chief financial officer David van Heerden.

The Canadian mining company is advancing four core projects in Southern Africa: expanding the tier-one Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC; ramping up the Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine, also in the DRC; building the tier-one Platreef mine in South Africa, which contains platinum, palladium, rhodium, nickel, gold, and copper; and exploring the Western Forelands region, home to the Makoko, Kitoko, and Kiala copper discoveries. Unless noted otherwise, all figures are in U.S. dollars.

Founder and co-chairman Robert Friedland shared optimism about the company’s performance.

“Ivanhoe Mines is proud to report strong financial and operational performance in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the significant efforts of our team and the broad shoulders of the world-class Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex.

“As we announced earlier this month, the initiatives to overcome power challenges and secure sustainable short, medium, and long-term energy sources for the growth of the world’s most important copper mine are beginning to bear fruit.

“Kamoa-Kakula is set for record production in the shorter month of April, achieving approximately 50,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate, equivalent to an annualised rate of over 600,000 tonnes – a remarkable achievement. This will provide the basis from which to continue our growth in 2026, including our optimization projects such as Project 95, even before the Phase 4 expansion.

“The start-up of Africa’s largest and greenest direct-to-blister smelter is just a few weeks away, which transforms Kamoa-Kakula into a fully integrated, low-cost, multi-generational supermajor copper complex. First production of 99+% pure copper anodes is expected in July. This milestone will lower transportation costs by more than 50% per unit of contained copper while enabling us to sell by-product sulphuric acid locally to meet rising demand in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s copper industry.

“Exploration continues to play a vital role in our future growth. On our Western Forelands licenses, we are making significant progress and will release an interim Mineral Resource update by mid-May. This update will highlight the immense potential of this highly prospective region adjacent to Kamoa-Kakula.”

The new ammonium nitrate solution tank at Sasolburg. (Image source: BME/Omnia)

South Africa’s BME has unveiled a new ammonium nitrate solution (ANS) storage tank at its Sasolburg site in South Africa

The company — a part of the Omnia Group, a JSE-listed diversified provider of specialised chemical products and services used in the mining and agricultural sectors — said the additional storage will strengthen overall supply chains.

In operation since January 2025, the facility can store 5,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in solution, according to Jacques De Villiers, Omnia’s executive for manufacturing, operations & supply chain.

De Villiers said the tank allows an expanded and constant supply of ANS to BME’s Dryden and Losberg plants, as well as to the existing BME supply chain network.

“The additional storage capacity will facilitate a consistent supply from the Sasolburg site to BME, and will allow the BME sites to manage their stock levels and further improve their distribution process to clients,” he said.

“For BME, our key strategic focus is on security of supply to customers, and this additional storage system adds to the confidence that BME customers have in our supply capabilities. This investment further demonstrates Omnia’s long-term commitment to strengthening critical infrastructure that supports mining operations across southern Africa, contributing to regional economic growth and resilience.”

BME operates throughout southern Africa supplying a host of products and services to the mining sector, including chemicals and metallurgy solutions, as well as blasting solutions for explosives and detonator offerings.

The new ANS tank is installed at Omnia’s Sasolburg complex and is strategically located between two nitric acid and ammonium nitrate production facilities, allowing for future expansion within the complex.

It is controlled and monitored by an advanced distributed control system, with additional safety features incorporated into its design and operation.

In line with Omnia’s sustainability and ESG goals, the tank allows the production facilities to run at a consistent and predictable rate, which streamlines the plant’s energy efficiency.

Thermal insulation of the tank and its transfer lines reduces the energy requirement to maintain temperature stability. The pumps in the system have also been engineered to operate at their most efficient point.

Deon Swart, chief operating officer at BME, highlighted the importance that Omnia and BME place on security of supply initiatives, including their dual sourcing of ammonia through the Richards Bay Terminal and energy giant, Sasol.

“This investment in the ANS tank further bolsters supply security by reaffirming storage of the next step in the value chain,” he said. “It allows us to deliver on our commitments and ensure storage availability to weather any changes in commodity and market cycles.”

He noted that it was not only the South African market that would benefit, but also the company’s broader network across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) area.

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