OILS & LUBRICANTS
In May 2021 , Shell introduced its refreshed portfolio of Shell Naturelle biodegradable lubricants , designed to help reduce environmental impact without compromising on equipment performance
Oiling the wheels
Paul Moore reviews the latest developments for lubricants in mining – which are at the heart of successful heavy equipment maintenance & engine health
The mining industry march towards decarbonisation is unstoppable and key consumables like lubricants are no exception . Shell recently announced it will offer customers carbon neutral lubricants across a range of products for passenger cars , heavy duty diesel engines and industrial applications including mining . Shell aims to offset the annual emissions of more than 200 million litres of advanced synthetic lubricants , expecting to compensate around 700,000 t of carbon dioxide equivalent ( CO 2e ) emissions per year , which is equivalent to taking approximately 340,000 cars off the road for one year .
“ Shell has set a target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 , in step with society and our customers ,” said Carlos Maurer , Executive Vice President , Global Commercial at Shell . “ We know our customers are looking for ways to reduce their net carbon footprint , and as the world ’ s leading lubricants supplier we have an important role to play . That is why I am pleased to announce the largest carbon neutral programme in the lubricants industry , and one that compensates for the full lifecycle emissions of our products . From today , our consumers , commercial drivers and industrial customers can now enjoy the benefits of improved engine performance and better fuel efficiency in a carbon neutral way .”
This represents a key milestone in Shell Lubricants ’ multi-year strategy to help customers manage their sustainability needs and its ambition to reduce the carbon intensity of its products by avoiding , reducing , and offsetting emissions . Since 2016 , Shell has reduced the carbon intensity of its lubricants manufacturing by over 30 %, and over 50 % of electricity used in its lubricant blending plants now comes from renewable sources . Shell is also reducing packaging waste from lubricants products at scale by increasing the use of recycled materials and exploring more sustainable packaging solutions across its supply chains .
While measures to avoid and reduce emissions offer the best way to tackle emissions in the long term , until scalable solutions are deployed , carbon offsetting programmes provide an immediate solution to balance CO 2e emissions across Shell ’ s portfolio and value chain . Shell ’ s global portfolio of nature-based carbon credits will compensate CO 2e emissions from the entire lifecycle of these products , including the raw materials , packaging , production , distribution , customer use and product end of life .
Shell ’ s carbon neutral lubricants are now available in key markets across Europe , Asia- Pacific , the Middle East and North America . Shell will offset the emissions from a mix of advanced synthetic lubricants in these markets , including Helix and Pennzoil for passenger cars ; Rimula and Rotella for heavy duty diesel engines , and a wide range of premium industry lubricants , including Shell Omala in the wind sector , Shell ’ s range of eco-Label products ‘ Shell Naturelle ,’ and the Shell Gadus greases product range .
In May 2021 , Shell introduced its refreshed portfolio of Shell Naturelle biodegradable lubricants , designed to help reduce environmental impact without compromising on equipment performance . Shell Naturelle lubricants go beyond being environmentally acceptable , with a high percentage achieving the new EU Ecolabel certification . They reduce emissions thanks to renewable and sustainable biobased raw materials – and are now carbon neutral .
“ The relaunch of the Shell Naturelle range is set against a backdrop of tightening environmental legislation and stakeholder pressure for companies to act on addressing climate change . Being able to show that they are implementing solutions to improve their overall environmental impact – from CO2 emissions to local ecosystems – is fast becoming a critical element in strengthening a company ’ s license to operate .”
Shell adds : “ Taking the lead in this area and getting ahead of incoming legislation is now not only an essential factor in being able to pursue new opportunities ; it can contribute to businesses gaining a competitive advantage in their sector . Companies must take that step beyond being environmentally acceptable to deliver on their sustainability ambitions and drive growth in revenue .”
Shell Naturelle lubricants are designed for a wide range of conditions and application types , including hydraulics , gears , greases , transformer fluids and more . The high biodegradability and low ecotoxicity of these products makes them especially suitable for operations in environmentally sensitive areas .
Carbon intensity of Shell Naturelle is reduced by solar-powered manufacturing , to reduce emissions during production , sourcing sustainable and renewable bio-components , packaging made with up to 40 % recycled plastic , compensating product lifecycle CO 2e emissions through Shell ’ s global portfolio of nature-based carbon credits . All of this can contribute to businesses ’ voluntary emissions targets .
“ The refreshed Shell Naturelle portfolio highlights the need for companies to make positive changes that deliver sustainable alternatives to products and processes across their entire supply chain . An often-overlooked element in a company ’ s decarbonisation journey , biodegradable lubricants are one of many ways that businesses can deliver improvements to their environmental impact – helping them to adapt to legislation and maintain their license to operate .”
TotalEnergies offers new fluid solutions for mining
TotalEnergies has recently launched a new water-based and highly fire resistant product called HYDRANSAFE HFC-E . Most fire-resistant products in the mining industry are derived from vegetable oils ( HFDU type ). “ These offer better fire risk management than standard hydraulic oils , but are still flammable . Standard water-
JULY 2021 | International Mining 41