Stay cool, stay profitable: scalable mine cooling solutions for modern mining challenges

Mining has never been easy, but today’s operations are pushing the boundaries even further. Deeper mines in remote regions present increasingly complex cooling and ventilation challenges. Here are three key reasons why effective cooling is crucial to the success of modern mining:

1. Employee Health and Safety
   In many regions, summer temperatures above ground can exceed 40°C. In deep mines, these surface temperatures translate into even more extreme heat underground. Without adequate cooling, miners are at risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke—conditions that can lead to permanent organ damage or even death. Not only is excessive heat a direct health risk, but accident rates also rise when workers are overheated. To ensure miners' safety, maintaining temperatures below 30°C is essential. Effective ventilation is equally critical, as toxic gases released during mining increase both health risks and fire hazards.
2. Equipment Operability
   Extreme temperatures don’t just affect your workforce—they also impact machinery. Excessive heat places additional stress on equipment, leading to breakdowns, costly repairs, and unplanned downtime. Ensuring that your cooling systems can protect both your people and your equipment is vital for keeping operations running smoothly.
3. Reduced Productivity
   Heat-stressed workers and malfunctioning equipment quickly result in reduced productivity. With an uncertain market outlook, any threats to your mine’s profitability need to be addressed proactively to ensure you remain competitive and efficient.

Traditional cooling and ventilation systems often fall short when it comes to meeting the needs of today’s rapidly evolving mining industry. Aggreko offers a flexible, scalable solution designed specifically for mining operations, allowing operators to adjust swiftly as needs change. Here’s how our rental approach addresses the challenges of conventional systems:

• Scalability
  Mining is inherently cyclical, with periods of growth and contraction closely tied to the global economy. To remain profitable, mine operators must be able to adapt their cooling infrastructure at short notice. Unfortunately, built-in cooling systems don’t offer this flexibility. If you need to upscale operations to meet growing demand, your existing equipment may not suffice, leading to significant capital expenditure. Modular systems, however, allow you to easily add or reduce the number of cooling towers or chillers as required—ensuring cost-effectiveness and adaptability in uncertain times.
• Cost Savings
  According to Mitchel Bevan, Aggreko’s Mine Cooling Sector Manager, “for every megawatt of permanent refrigeration cooling, a company could pay upwards of $1.2 million in capital expenditure.” Add in the cost of spare parts and ongoing maintenance, and the expenses quickly escalate. With Aggreko’s rental cooling solutions, you avoid these upfront costs, and our team handles maintenance and repairs for you. This results in both immediate and long-term savings, providing you with greater financial flexibility to invest where it matters most.
• Reliable Energy Access
  Mining in remote areas often means limited access to power sources. Aggreko is a global leader in providing reliable energy solutions, offering diesel, gas, hybrid, or energy storage systems that ensure your cooling and ventilation systems have the power they need to operate efficiently.
  
• Ongoing Support
  When you purchase cooling and ventilation equipment outright, you miss out on the expert support that comes with a rental solution. Mining is a long-term venture, with each phase presenting its own unique requirements. Whether it’s troubleshooting a cooling issue or adjusting your setup as production ramps up, Aggreko partners with you from exploration through to production, offering technical advice and tailored equipment packages to suit your specific needs.

Aggreko’s scalable, rental-based cooling solutions provide mining operations with the flexibility, cost savings, and support they need to succeed in today’s challenging environment. Whether you're managing remote operations or facing fluctuating market conditions, Aggreko delivers the equipment and expertise required to keep your mine running smoothly and efficiently.