Fuel cost and carbon cuts can be a quick fix
- 15 October 2025
Fuelfix CEO Tricia Welsh says increasing pressure on miners to decarbonise is a cloud with a silver lining. “We don’t need to choose between sustainability and operational performance,” she says.
“We can have both.”
Fuelfix founder Mark Westbrook and a small team pioneered the use of self-bunded portable fuel tank at remote mine and construction sites 20 years ago. The Western Australia-based company has since built a national distribution and customer network for traditional hydrocarbons and new energy storage units and management systems.
“Fuelfix started life as a subject matter expert in hydrocarbons solutions for remote areas, so we have pivoted to disrupt our own industry and help customers use less diesel,” Welsh says.
“The way diesel is stored and used can reduce operational costs while driving down emissions.
“Simple changes in equipment, combined with existing technology, can drive significant cost savings.
“CO2 emission reductions are the icing on top.”
Tools and tactics for immediate decarbonisation impact in mining will be the focus of a presentation by Welsh and Fluid Management Technology (FMT) executive director Michael Grosser at the 2025 International Mining and Resources Conference + Expo (IMARC) at ICC Sydney. Fuelfix has worked closely with South Australia-based FMT for a number of years.
Welsh will also feature in a panel discussion about the increasing importance of mine decarbonisation, which is being driven by companies’ ESG commitments, regulatory frameworks such as the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme, and global carbon emission reduction goals.
Diesel fuel can account for half a mine’s annual CO2 emissions.
FMT and Fuelfix believe only about 10% of operators are tracking their fuel use with high levels of accuracy. The companies managed about 1.6 billion litres of fuel use by the industry last year
“Cleaner operations can reduce fuel costs, improve asset utilisation and unlock competitive advantage,” Welsh says.
“The key is knowing where to start and how to scale.
“Decarbonisation does not have to be complicated. We focus on four key actions related to fuel: measure, manage, reduce and displace.
“Audit your existing infrastructure for compliance and efficiency and ensure you understand where your fuel is really going.
“Install a FMT fuel management system and capture accurate data at key interactions within your organisation.
“Set a baseline reference target for fuel volumes and scope one and scope two emissions.
“And choose the right-sized fuel infrastructure in the right location on site to optimise fuel usage in terms of cost, maintenance and emissions.”
Welsh says Fuelfix works with customers to review consumption trends to proactively identify asset health issues and optimise fuel usage and also improve fuel delivery routes and movements on site.
The introduction of microgrid hybrid systems, including battery storage and solar power, is an evolving part of the landscape.
“Fuelfix and FMT have teams of people who can help integrate these processes into operations and yield meaningful results,” she says.
