Amid fluctuating fuel prices, it has never been more important for businesses to ensure that they manage this “vital resource” correctly, says mining solutions provider Africa Mining Services Incorporated (AMSI).

The company notes that almost every business relies on fuel to drive daily operations; however, fuel misuse goes mostly unnoticed.

AMSI MD Ray Barnes stresses that, as fuel is a highly sellable commodity that is easy to pilfer, transport and hide, turning fuel into data means that companies can eliminate these challenges.

Through AMSI and UK-based fuel management company Jigsaw, mining companies can gain access to a “world-class”, cloud-based fuel management system.

The system, AMSI says, has been designed to provide companies with transparency on all necessary information, anywhere and in real time.

“The opencast mining environment – in which we heavily operate – for example, is quite big, with equally big mining equipment that uses huge amounts of diesel and lubricant. In this sense, it is very difficult to ensure that no one is pilfering fuel,” Barnes tells Mining Weekly.

He points out that the company’s fuel management system has been well received in the mining industry.

A key reason for its popularity is based on the development philosophy that recognises that a “one-size-fits-all” approach is inappropriate.

Consequently, Jigsaw’s cloud-based fuel management system – which AMSI has agency of – was developed with many custom features that are specific to the different market sectors in which they operate. This is evident in Jigsaw’s extensive mining sector network, which has grown with AMSI’s assistance.

“Much development work has been done on the software by our partners in the UK, and we have really adapted it to the African mining environment, which we are very proud of because it is considerably more challenging to operate in Africa, where the mines are much bigger than in other parts of the world,” says Barnes.

Further, AMSI has rolled out some of the largest fuel management system installations in Africa and South America, with a record “second to none” in the planning, installation, implementation and servicing of major operational projects.

With ongoing projects across some of the largest copper mines in the world, based in Africa and Southern America, AMSI is proud to have successfully created the environment that has shown clients substantial savings on operational fuel spend.

As every litre is being accounted for across client operations, the threat of fuel theft and misuse has, effectively, been removed, says Barnes.

Owing to the “world-class interface and reporting” of the fuel system, AMSI clients now have full visibility and understanding of where and how their fuel is being used – at all times.

Moreover, the company has established a network of reliable, high-quality suppliers that have assisted AMSI in creating its “unique team structure” and global operational network.

“For example, we have Zambians who we have trained to manage our Zambian operations and that is how we give back to the countries in which we operate. Our philosophy is rooted in family values – we are able to create a working environment that is agile, authentic and always ahead of the curve,” Barnes enthuses.

He comments that providing “innovative technological systems” for the business world while focusing on clients and their needs drives the company’s vision.

AMSI currently has operations in Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Panama – and the company plans to expand even further into the African market, Barnes adds.

“We are very focused on Africa, as we are an African company. Our team comprises Africans and we are focused on growing our footprint on the continent. “We understand Africa and we believe that we have the capability to provide the right kind of product for this continent,” he concludes.