Combustion Optimisation & Safeguard Framework Alignment in Mining Operations
Executive Overview
Diesel is one of the largest controllable operating costs for Australian mining operations and heavy fleet operators. It is also a primary contributor to Scope 1 emissions.
Under Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism, facilities exceeding prescribed emissions baselines must surrender carbon credits (ACCUs or SMCs), creating a direct financial exposure linked to diesel combustion.
Improving combustion efficiency therefore supports both operating cost control and carbon exposure management.
FTC Decarbonizer provides a standards-referenced combustion optimisation strategy evaluated under recognised engineering methodologies.
Documented Mining Field Performance
FTC Decarbonizer (FPC configuration) was evaluated in a structured underground mining field trial using AS2077-based Carbon Mass Balance methodology.
Trial parameters included:
- 3 underground haul trucks
- 3 underground loaders
- 5-month baseline versus treated comparison
- Continuous dosing at 1:10,000
Measured Result
An average 7.27% reduction in carbon flow under defined operating conditions.
Carbon Mass Balance measures the mass of carbon exiting the exhaust relative to baseline operation. Reduced carbon flow indicates improved combustion efficiency and reduced fuel consumption under measured conditions.
Results vary depending on engine type, duty cycle, fuel quality, maintenance condition and operating environment.
Carbon Exposure & Safeguard Framework Context
Australia does not operate a fixed economy-wide carbon tax. However, under the Safeguard Mechanism, large emitters must manage emissions relative to prescribed baselines. Where emissions exceed baseline levels, carbon credits must be surrendered.
For heavy-duty diesel combustion:
1 million litres ≈ 2,716 tonnes CO₂-e Scope 1 emissions
Illustrative example:
A site consuming 10 million litres annually:
- 3% reduction ≈ 815 tCO₂-e reduction
- 5% reduction ≈ 1,358 tCO₂-e reduction
Where facilities operate above baseline thresholds, reduced emissions may proportionally reduce carbon credit procurement requirements.
Combustion efficiency improvement therefore becomes both a cost-control and carbon-mitigation lever.
Academic & Scientific Support
Peer-reviewed research conducted at the University of Western Australia under an ARC Linkage Program investigated the homogeneous combustion catalyst under controlled engine and dynamometer conditions.
Published findings measured changes in:
- Brake specific fuel consumption
- Ignition delay
- Combustion duration
- Heat release characteristics
The field trial complements laboratory findings by demonstrating measured performance under operational mining conditions.
Fuel Specification Compliance
FTC Decarbonizer has been tested to ASTM standards to confirm that treated diesel remains within fuel specification parameters.
Fuel testing using ASTM methodologies was conducted under ISO 9001 quality management systems.
This confirms that combustion optimisation does not alter base fuel specification.
Carbon Footprint Transparency
An ISO 14067-compliant carbon footprint assessment has been completed by Carbon Halo to quantify the cradle-to-gate embodied emissions of FTC Decarbonizer.
This enables transparent lifecycle carbon accounting when evaluating net operational impact.
Operational Implementation
FTC Decarbonizer is dosed directly into diesel fuel and does not require:
- Engine modification
- Hardware retrofits
- Operational downtime
For mine sites and heavy fleets, a structured baseline-versus-treated evaluation program is recommended to quantify site-specific fuel, financial and carbon outcomes under defined conditions.
Product Configurations
FTC Decarbonizer
- 1:800 dosing
- 1:1600 dosing
FPC Variant
- 1:10,000 continuous dosing
- Configuration used in documented underground mining field trial
All configurations utilise the same homogeneous combustion catalyst formulation.
Strategic Relevance for Mining Operations
FTC Decarbonizer supports:
- Diesel cost optimisation
- Mitigation of Scope 1 emissions from combustion
- Potential reduction in ACCU/SMC exposure where applicable
- Improved emissions intensity metrics
- Structured, measurable performance evaluation
Results vary depending on engine type, duty cycle, fuel quality and operating conditions. No guaranteed savings are implied.
Next Step
Contact our technical team to discuss a structured site evaluation aligned to your fleet profile, diesel consumption and Safeguard reporting requirements.
Important notice: performance outcomes vary depending on engine type, duty cycle, fuel quality and operating conditions. No guaranteed savings are implied.
