FUELS & LUBRICANTS
Sulnox on reframing biofuels
Biofuels, especially FAME based blends, are moving from pilots to operational reality at many mining operations as the industry moves to meet interim decarbonisation targets; especially as electric fleet technology is evolving slower than many predicted. But they do not always perform in the same way as conventional diesel as they can behave differently from the fuels that engines and systems were built for. They introduce new risks such as instability, water uptake and waxing that threaten reliability. Plus they demand new handling procedures, new monitoring routines, and additional costs.
Sulnox Group states:“ Biofuels require revised storage protocols; proactive fuel conditioning; more frequent monitoring; and updated maintenance expectations. This isn’ t a failure of biofuels; it’ s simply the reality of dealing with different fuel chemistry.” It points out that oxidative instability, particularly FAME, leads to gum formation, sludge, and clogged filters, while water absorption accelerates microbial growth and leads to corrosion. Cold flow problems cause waxing and gelling in colder climates; and shorter storage life complicates bunkering strategies and seasonal operations. Material compatibility issues can degrade seals, elastomers, and coatings.
Sulnox argues that mine operators can adopt a preventative approach including conditioning fuels at the point of bunkering; stabilising them during storage; ensuring compatibility with onboard systems and monitoring oxidation and water content.“ If mine operators want to remove the problem factor from biofuels, the most effective, simple step is improving their stability and behaviour before they ever reach the engine. Fuel conditioners like Sulnox Eco give operators a way to do exactly that.”
By enhancing the physical properties of biofuel blends, Sulnox Eco the company says can improve biofuel oxidative stability and lubricity, plus provide better water management through emulsification therefore reducing the risk of microbial growth and corrosion. If offers cleaner, more complete combustion and helps offset some of the efficiency losses associated with biofuel blends. Finally, it says it reduces sludge and deposits and keeps tanks, filters, and injectors cleaner, lowering maintenance costs.
The company also offers SulMix Smart, an electronic inline dosing system that automatically injects Sulnox Eco based on realtime fuel flow, and provides remote visibility of fuel / Sulnox mixing and Sulnox supply levels. It is intended for operators who want reduced crew input, have tighter control overdosing, improved asset tracking, and the ability to monitor tanks and dosing performance from shore or across multiple sites.
Cascadia Scientific Refuel Coach the company says offers verified refuelling with multi-source data
time and opportunity. Better data means better decisions. With real-time visibility, you can refuel only when it’ s needed – and keep your trucks in production longer.”
Refuel Coach the company says offers verified refuelling with multi-source data that combines tank temperature patterns, GPS, fuel level sensors, and FMS data to accurately confirm when refuelling occurs. Precise fuel consumption tracking uses high-accuracy fuel flow meters to measure consumption and calculate true remaining fuel between refuels. Machine learning analyses haul cycle history to forecast how many trips remain before refuelling – helping you run trucks longer between fills.
“ Refuel Coach tackles both problems, refuelling too early and refuelling too late, by calculating real-time, highly accurate fuel-onboard estimates, and issuing smart alerts for critically low fuel levels.”
The model uses multiple data sources to give accurate fuel insights: fuel temperature patterns( feed and return); tank level sensors; truck geolocation; engine shutdown events; and integration with the Fuel Management System. Manual confirmation or override is also possible. The algorithms can also detect partial refueling events by combining fuel system data with tank temperature patterns.
The system offers highly triangulated fuel volume estimates. It calculates
Mining
Lubrication & services
International Mining | JULY 2026