Oil
Novel model reduces fuel use in open-pit mining fleet
A new integrated dispatch framework for open-pit mining balances operational targets with fuel efficiency to curb emissions.
Key points
- Haulage accounts for a significant share of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in open-pit mining.
- A new framework combines discrete event simulation and goal programming to optimise truck dispatching.
- Testing at an Iranian iron ore mine demonstrated improved ore throughput and lower emissions compared to traditional models.
What happened
According to ESI Africa, researchers have developed an integrated fuel-efficiency model designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions in open-pit mining operations. Haulage represents a major energy consumer and emission source in such ventures, accounting for up to 66 percent of energy use and 54 percent of emissions in projects involving materials like iron, bauxite, and coal.
The newly proposed framework integrates a Discrete Event Simulation built with Rockwell Arena software and a Multi-Objective Mixed Integer Goal Programming optimisation solved via IBM CPLEX. This setup facilitates dynamic decision-making whenever a haulage truck alters its status, such as finishing repairs or dumping a load.
Why it matters
Tested at the Gol-e-Gohar iron ore mine in Iran over a ten-day simulation period, the novel model balanced four interdependent objectives. Traditional dispatching methods typically focused entirely on production targets while ignoring environmental impacts. The new approach successfully factored in fuel consumption alongside operational goals.
Results indicated that while benchmark market models achieved lower total fuel use by prioritizing short paths to waste dumps, they failed to meet necessary plant ore tonnages. The new quad-objective framework maintained required plant feed rates while enhancing overall operational efficiency.
What comes next
Further analysis examined optimal fleet configurations and the impact of unexpected component failures. Researchers intend to incorporate additional elements in future studies to improve the realism and performance of the dispatching framework.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Crude benchmarks move budgets, currencies and inflation in producer and importer countries alike. For economies such as Nigeria, where fuels dominate exports, production and refining decisions move the whole economy.
9.5% of world merchandise exports were fuels in 2025Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
