The best lubricants and grease for Nigeria mining Companies

Mining companies do not enjoy the profitability leverage that other manufacturing entities, construction, and oil and gas enjoy. Many problems affect the mining sector and its profitability, for example, stricter environmental regulations for the government, community issues, and depleting profits of their commodity and competition. One of the strategies open to mining companies and a path to profits is to ensure that their work tools are in top-performing order and hence running smoothly, mining companies need to ensure that they implement advanced maintenance methodologies employed by the firms, and this involves the use of advanced lubricants that keeps their equipment working without stopping or high costs in repairs.

This article explores the best lubricants and grease for Nigeria mining companies. This is basically for their equipment to perform optimally and answers some common questions mining companies usually ask. Our team owns and maintains a lot of heavy equipment used in mining, construction, and oil and gas. It is less expensive than thought to get and use the best lubricant alternatives for their equipment. Mining firms must not take advice from mediocre in equipment maintenance, and they should not pay too heavily to understand what they want. Many mining companies in Nigeria use water for coolants in their equipment, and before the close of one year, the entire cooling system is dripping with rust and unhealthy heating of their engines. Nigeria already has hot weather, so using the right product in their equipment can prevent doom and costly repairs and maintenance in the future (very near). Why take that risk? Read to know.

Nigeria and its strategic minerals

Countries prioritize their mining sector to drive the growth of their economy, so it is with Nigeria, with a diverse mining sector with high-value commodities of over 44 mineral deposits in over 500 locations across its 36 States, including the Federal Capital Territory. The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development identified Nigeria’s seven strategic minerals as cola, limestone, iron ore, barites, gold and lead, and zinc for priority development and reviving of the mining sector and unlocking its potential, subsequently helping to diversify Nigeria’s economy from over-dependent in crude oil. Hence Nigeria, through the establishment of the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), is responsible for the administration of mineral rights and tiles and the maintenance of the Cadastral register and empowers the minister of Mines and Steel through regulation to determine the areas that would be open for the grant of exploration or mining lease based on competitive bidding, if you or you know who wants to get involved in mining in Nigeria you now know where to drive your focus.

There are over seven hundred listed mining companies in Nigeria. Hopefully, and these companies should have access to this content to help their operations team select appropriate lubricants and grease to run their operations.

Where Mining companies should focus

Mining companies should focus on proper equipment maintenance, thereby increasing efficiency, which will, in turn, increase their production volumes. This is the strategy applied by Oil and gas firms. Epoxy Oilserv became the best supplier of lubricants to mining companies in Nigeria since 2014

What is the Role of Lubricants in Mining Operations?

Lubricants play the most critical roles in the mining machinery lubrication system. Apart from the primary focus of different lubricating parts of their machines, it helps reduce friction, preventing wear and tear that makes the equipment not work optimally anymore. Lubricants contain corrosion inhibitors which reduce rust and oxidation of metal parts of equipment, and advanced detergent properties to remove wear particles and contaminants from the lubrication system of the mining machines.

Lubemax has various lubricants, such as open gear grease, a high-viscosity semi-fluid product that p[plays a vital role in mining and construction. The mining grease (Lubemax lithium grease EP2 or EP3) helps to reduce the wear and tear of moving parts in the machines. Open-gear lubricants are helpful for open-gear applications such as ball mills, rod mills, or breaker mills; this equipment operates at high pitch line velocities and supports heavy loads; hence it is considered challenging to know what exact grease should be applied. The best-performing open-gear lubricants have excellent load-bearing, vibration reduction, and water resistance properties.

A study done recently found that over the last three years, approximately 96% of mining companies reported unplanned equipment shutdowns, many of which were due to the incorrect selection or management of their lubricants. The frequent shutdowns caused these companies 40% incurring costs resulting in at least $250,000 USD. Aside from saving costs by selecting suitable lubricants, incorporating a well-planned lubrication system into mining equipment can support companies in keeping up with the speed and various other demands of their daily activities. In North America alone, it is estimated that the mining industry could save up to USD 29.1 million yearly if lubricants were appropriately selected.

There are several factors to consider when choosing the best industrial lubricants for a mining company. Some of the most important include:

Operating conditions: The lubricant should be able to withstand the harsh operating conditions of a mining environment, including high temperatures, dirt, dust, and vibration.
Compatibility: The lubricant should be compatible with the materials and surfaces it will come into contact with, as well as any other lubricants or fluids being used in the system.
Performance: The lubricant should provide the necessary protection and performance characteristics for the specific application, such as reducing friction and wear, preventing corrosion, and maintaining cleanliness.
Lubrication intervals: The lubricant should be able to maintain its performance for long periods, reducing the frequency of re-lubrication and minimizing downtime.

Some examples of industrial lubricants that may be suitable for use in a mining company include:

Extreme pressure (EP) gear oils: These lubricants are formulated to withstand high loads and extreme pressure, making them suitable for use in gear systems and other heavily loaded equipment.
Hydraulic oils: These lubricants are used in hydraulic systems to transmit power and provide lubrication. They should have good thermal stability and wear protection properties to withstand the high pressures and loads experienced in a mining environment. Hydraulic oils that deliver keep-clean performance with energy efficiency benefits
Axle Gear oils that reduce oil and power consumption
Greases: Greases are used to lubricate bearings and other components that cannot be easily reached for re-lubrication. They should have good adhesion and water resistance properties to withstand the harsh conditions of a mining environment.
Grease lubricants that ensure long bearing life. Mind you. There are different grease types: lithium grease, Calcium sulphonate grease, aluminum complex grease, Barium complex grease, Bentonite grease, Polyurea grease, and sodium grease.
Transmission oils that aid quicker starts and reduced wears

It is essential to consult with our lubricants team or a reputable supplier/manufacturer to determine the most suitable lubricant for your specific application and operating conditions.

The different types of mining lubricants (chemical composition application)

Mining lubricants can be classified according to the base oil and additives used in producing them. For example, their mining lubricants are produced with mineral oil, and those produced with synthetic oil

Mining lubricants made from mineral base oil
Mining lubricants made from synthetic base oil

Mining lubricants of mineral oil origin are made from petroleum or naturally occurring crude oil; they are the most abundant and cheaper to produce; hence it is the most affordable. The disadvantage of this type of lubricant is that they are made from natural components and therefore consist of sulfur and phosphorus, which are both considered a considerable contaminants in lubricants. Mining lubricants of Mineral origin are also sensitive to temperature changes and hence have a lower pour point and flash point when considered with synthetic lubricants; however, some premium lubricants, such as Lubemax brand, compensate for this disadvantage by adding performance additives after purification.

Synthetic oils are made synthetically through chemical reactions. The goal is to create purer and more innovative alternatives to conventional industrial lubricants. Unlike their mineral-based lubricants, synthetic oils have a higher viscosity index; they are more stable at different temperature ranges. Their high flash point means they are a perfect solution for heavy-duty industries like mining, with common fire-related safety hazards.

Whether you need mineral or synthetic lubricants for your mining operations, LubeMax is the right choice for you. In our selection, you can find the broadest range of mineral and synthetic lubricants within the Lubemax portfolio used in heavy-duty industrial settings.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for a broader selection of lubricants and support on lube tests and supplies, no matter your location.