Case Studies
Tackling Carbon Emissions Reduction With Mining Technology
Type: Decarbonisation
Site: Surface Mine
Location: Western Europe
Outcome: ↑ Estimated avoidance of 2,895 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, with productivity per operating hour increasing by 6% and a 4% reduction in litres per tonne.
Resource Type: Environmental
The Task
A regional mining company was passionate about minimising its impact on the environment. Although the site already had a Fleet Management System in place, it recognised that more could be done to extract value from existing tools and data. With sustainability and efficiency as shared priorities, the operation partnered with MTS to better align its day-to-day decisions with its long-term environmental goals. The engagement focused not on introducing new systems, but on unlocking the untapped potential of what was already installed — through better configuration, clearer communication, and more responsive decision-making across departments.
The Solution
The operation faced significant inefficiencies in its load and haul processes, which led to excessive fuel consumption and avoidable carbon emissions. Haul trucks were identified as a major contributor to the site’s overall emissions footprint. Although the site had invested in mining technology capable of supporting more efficient operations, it was not being used to its full potential.
One of the primary issues was the large amount of time trucks spent idling, particularly during shift changes or unplanned delays. This idle time directly resulted in unnecessary fuel burn and elevated emissions. Another contributing factor was the underutilisation of the FMS. While the technology had the capability to support decisions such as when to dispatch or park trucks, many of these calls were still being made manually, without reference to real-time data.
Prior to MTS’s involvement, there was also limited communication between departments, which delayed responses to changing operational conditions. By equipping the control room with better tools, training, and dashboards, and aligning teams with real-time data, the operation stood to gain significantly in both emissions reduction and productivity.
The Analysis
MTS worked with the site to target several areas of opportunity, with benchmarks defined for key metrics.
One of the first actions taken was the delivery of training for the Fleet Management System (FMS) control room team. The training focused on ensuring that staff could confidently use the system’s optimisation algorithms and real-time features to support decision-making. This allowed the team to shift from a reactive approach to a more proactive operational mindset.
In parallel, MTS developed and implemented real-time dashboards focused on key areas of waste, including shift-change idle time, overall productivity, and in-shift engine idling. These dashboards gave the control room immediate visibility into inefficiencies as they occurred, enabling timely interventions rather than relying on post-shift reporting.
Example of a customised dashboard used by the control room to track idling
To support faster and more effective decision-making, MTS facilitated enhancements to interdepartmental processes and communication flows. By improving the way information was shared between dispatch, planning, and operations, decisions were made more quickly and executed with greater consistency. This ensured that opportunities to reduce idle time or adjust fleet size based on demand were not missed.
The Results
Following the implementation of MTS’ recommendations, the site recorded clear and measurable improvements in both productivity and environmental performance. One of the most significant gains was in productivity per operating hour, which increased from 399 to 425 tonnes per operating hour — a 6% improvement. This uplift reflected better use of the haul fleet, enhanced scheduling, and more timely operational decisions supported by the newly configured dashboards and control room training.
The fuel burn per tonne of material moved decreased from 0.41 to 0.39 litres per tonne, representing a 4% reduction. This outcome was achieved by minimising unnecessary idle time and better matching equipment usage to actual operational demand. As a result of these improvements, the operation achieved an estimated fuel saving of 1,080,343 litres over the year. This reduction in fuel use contributed directly to the site’s environmental goals, resulting in an estimated avoidance of 2,895 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
These results demonstrate how focused optimisation of existing systems — combined with operational training and improved communication — can deliver both financial and environmental impact on a large scale.
Summary
Through its collaboration with MTS, the operation developed a clearer, more data-driven approach to managing its haulage fleet. Cross-departmental decision-making was streamlined, reducing delays and ensuring trucks could be parked or deployed based on real-time operational thresholds. The control room and operations teams gained a stronger understanding of how to use the Fleet Management System effectively in response to the site’s dynamic mining environment. These improvements led to measurable gains in productivity, reduced emissions, and a more agile, responsive operation overall. To ensure sustainability, the new configured reports are now a core part of the site’s daily KPI review, making these performance gains permanent and driving further improvement.
Why Choose MTS for your Mining Technology Needs?
At MTS, we bridge the gap between mining technology, people, and IT. Our experienced team of mining technologists is dedicated to empowering mines to enhance productivity, minimise waste, and optimise costs through the seamless integration of technology.