Oil is fast becoming a scarce resource, with alarming estimates from a range of credible sources suggesting that we will run out of the commodity during the current century. It has therefore become crucial for companies, especially those that are heavily oil-dependent, to identify new ways of continuing operations whilst becoming more efficient.

A statistic recently published by Worldmeters - based on the current consumption rate of oil - estimates that by the year 2054, a mere 42 years from now, the world will run out of oil based resources. 

According to Sean Slabbert, Product Manager at AEL Mining Services, oil is a non-renewable resource, which means there is a finite amount available for consumption. "At the same time, oil is a vital commodity for many industries, so it is crucial that businesses, especially their research and development departments, consider how they can maximise the use of those products in order to sustain the availability of the planets resources."

He notes that for the mining industry, used oil  has the potential to become an integral ingredient in the production of bulk emulsions, used in the large scale mining of minerals such as coal and platinum.

"Through our on-going research and testing, we have developed an innovative way to make use of refined black oil instead of pure oil in our products. This will play a significant role in assisting us to conserve the oil reserves we currently have as well as helping our customers reduce their carbon footprint by disposing of their used oil in a responsible manner," says Slabbert.

"Everything that has an engine requires oil in order to operate, and every engine needs to change this when it undergoes a service. This dirty oil, also known as black oil, is then drained and replaced with new lubricating fuel. The problem here is that the old oil is not responsibly disposed of, it could contaminate the environment, whereas it could be reused for other purposes such as fuel in bulk explosives" says Slabbert.

 "AEL Mining Services is currently producing a substantial volume of bulk emulsion to service the surface mining industry. In order for an explosive to work the emulsion requires an oxidiser, fuel and a source of heat. Black Oil makes up part of the fuel used in these bulk emulsions, so it plays a critical role in the explosives process" says Slabbert.

As a result of the large emulsion quantities demanded by the industry and the fact that there are such limited natural resources available, Slabbert notes that incorporating black oil  into the company's products has helped in the sustainability of the earth's oil resources.

He also notes that when the explosive is detonated, the black oil is consumed in the process, resulting in a more efficient and eco-friendly way of disposing of used or dirty oil.

"Although the black oil needs to go through a refining process, it is a win-win solution for the mining industry and explosives manufaturer," he says.

"Reducing our dependency on oil and other non-renewable resources, as well as identifying new ways to re-use scarce commodities, is crucial if we are going to sustain these resources for generations to come as well as act to preserve the environment," concludes Slabbert.

AEL Mining Services
Modderfontein, Johannesburg
South Africa, 1645
Tel: +27 11 606 0000
Fax: +27 11 605 0000
www.aelminingservices.com